Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (review #2)

As a cynical parody of the traditional romance novel and clever critique of the American middle class, the novel works. Like Conrad before him, Nabokov's use of his adopted language is very impressive and is what really drives the unsavory story. It is a work that is obviously of its time (post-war middle-class disillusionment masked by hypocrisy) which goes far in explaining its popularity. For all that, I found it difficult to enjoy a novel where the narrator was so obviously self-delusional and in spite of his feigned insistence that he found his own actions repugnant he still obviously reveled in his destruction of the people around him. It reminded me too much of criminals I have had contact with in the past and the patter is always the same with them, regardless of their education (or lack there of). Read it because Nabokov was a clever wordsmith who enjoyed literary puns, but don't kid yourself that it is anything more than that.

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PS3527.A15 L6 1989
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Randolph Boyd, Gift Acquisitions, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Somewhat Recommended