Lolita

I wasn't really looking forward to reading this book. The only other Nabokov book I read, The Defense, was about chess (a metaphor) and wasn't particularly interesting. Perhaps it was my age (early twenties). Perhaps the subject of the book. Who knows? Lolita, on the other hand, was wonderful! The subject was disturbing, to be sure, but the style was poetic and beautiful, and Nabokov did a great job making this pervert simultaneously disgusting and sympathetic. We appreciate the honest portrayal of his emotions, his desire for Lolita, who is herself a spoiled, vicious, unpleasant, self-centered, rude brat. But we also turn away from the actions of this lust-filled pedophile who repeatedly rapes a twelve-year-old then listens, sexually satiated, as she cries in her bedroom. We feel bad for him as he tries to make the best of a sham of a life with Lolita, while trapping her--his sexual slave, literally--in a twisted relationship from which she cannot escape. Masterful!

The book is filled with surprises and interesting twists of the plot. The language is beautifully poetic and sensually imagistic. Sure, it dragged in sections, but overall the writing was easily strong enough to hold the book together. Nabokov constantly reminds us of Humbert's perversion and Lolita's youth throughout the text, just to make sure we are never won over by the haunting and hypnotically poetic prose. I especially like the elliptical references to sexuality incorporated throughout the book. Humbert seems to be disgusted with himself and cannot even bring himself to discuss his lust in the frankest of terms, treating their unions with delicacy and tact. I could not put the book down, finishing it in two days. The only question is, what book on my Top Ten will be replaced by Lolita?