Review: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

5 stars for Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov.

I have been trying, of late, to revisit some books that, for some reason or other, I did not manage to complete previously. Lolita is one such. To tell the truth, I have never thought I will pick up this book again one day. In the end, one day is here. Now. And I realise coming back to Lolita is one of the best literary decisions I have ever made.

Lolita, a story within a story, is based on a memoir written by a man using the pseudonym Humbert Humbert (H.H.). Due to certain events past, H.H. is sordidly drawn to nymphets. Nymphets here refers to young girls, who are attractive and sexually mature, but still possess childlike behavior and innocence. This memoir is the account of H.H.'s obsession and relationship with one particular nymphet whom he gives the term of endearment Lolita. To quote "She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock. She was Lola in slacks. She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. But in my arms she was always Lolita."

On top of his complete adoration of Lolita, H.H. also reveals at the onset of his memoir, page one in chapter one, that he is a murderer. To quote "You can always count on a murderer for a fancy prose style." Even so, the reader has to read on patiently to find out if this self-professed murderer is telling the truth - as the reader will soon discover that H.H. is not quite the reliable narrator as he makes out to be - and if so, uncover who the victim is. By this subtle act of confession, H.H. kicks off his memoir with a fancy air of mystique meant to keep the story rolling in suspense.

Over the years I have read books and been affected by some (naturally), but this is the first book, and likely the last, that shakes me up so badly. To say Lolita is a disturbing story is a gross understatement for it is not, in my opinion, a tale for the faint hearted. It is great yet terrible, exquisite yet grotesque, beautiful yet ugly, shocking yet soothing, exhilarating yet heartbreaking, sordid yet entrancing. Yes, it is one sordid tale of a story. Sordid yet entrancing in its own right. What makes Lolita so morally shocking yet beautiful and seductive at the same time is the way it draws out the reader's sensual imagination and high-arousal emotions - anxiety, anger, fear, excitement, thrill - through the author's skilful riddling of narratives with flamboyant word play in lieu of graphic descriptions and lewd details. It is a dark story for sure, but it is also one so beautifully narrated that it brings writing and storytelling to a different level, and in all likelihood, reason for Lolita attaining a classic status.

Having read Lolita from foreword to postscript finally, I can now appreciate why it is listed as an ideal book to have by so many of the contributors in My Ideal Bookshelf. Though a tragic story with an obvious villain at its core, there is still sympathy abound as empathy set in in readers. Even if we do not see eye to eye with H.H.'s deadly fixation, we understand his illicit pursuit of passion, a result of author Nabokov's great prose style that brings out the best and worst of humanity. The articulations of longing and insatiable illicit love is so gloriously tender that the reader in me cannot bear to point fingers but express sorrow in a quiet, gentle way. I think, whoever reads and loves Lolita as much as I do, will inevitably find a piece of themselves in H.H. upon reaching the end of this sad beautiful story.

Lolita is, without a doubt, one of Vladimir Nabokov's great literary masterpieces, perhaps even considered to be his most famous work as one of the most controversial and widely read books of its time. I believe this unforgettable work of art on obsession will continue to survive the test of time.


Publisher: Berkley
Publication date: 15 Apr 1980

*** Favourite quote ***

She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock. She was Lola in slacks. She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. But in my arms she was always Lolita.

~ Lolita
Vladimir Nabokov

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Humbert Humbert - scholar, aesthete and romantic - has fallen completely and utterly in love with Lolita Haze, his landlady's gum-snapping, silky skinned twelve-year-old daughter. Reluctantly agreeing to marry Mrs Haze just to be close to Lolita, Humbert suffers greatly in the pursuit of romance; but when Lo herself starts looking for attention elsewhere, he will carry her off on a desperate cross-country misadventure, all in the name of Love. Hilarious, flamboyant, heart-breaking and full of ingenious word play, Lolita is an immaculate, unforgettable masterpiece of obsession, delusion and lust.

*Blurb from Goodreads*

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