Has anyone actually read Lolita?

[Kirk1]

Just that. We all know its a book about a dirty old man having an inappropriate relationship with a young teen girl, I was wondering if anyone has read it and can give an informed opinion.

I think in general people assume it's a book where she enjoys and asks for it, and/or makes apologies for his actions (Thinking of the phrase from it that I heard from the film with Jeremy Irons) Would you think less of me for having a curiosity about it and wanting to read the book for myself?

[BobbiFleckmann]

why on earth would anyone think less of you for wanting to read it? it's superb, a masterpiece of modern writing. Read it and love it for the work of literature that it is and not for the person that Humbert is.

[auntierozzi]

I read 2 thirds of it when I was about 17 and found it too creepy then. I suppose you just have to be in the right mood.....I'm not going to bother though, I prefer a good Ian Rankin myself ;-) can't wait to read his latest.

[DuchessofMalfi]

Of course you should read it if you want to. I wouldn't think any less of you for reading it/wanting to read it. It's the only way we can have an informed opinion of the novel, isn't it? It's probably going onto my extensive tbr list too. It's deemed a modern classic, so there must be more to it.

[CryptoFascist]

Yes I have read it, and you should if you want to! Whyever not? It's a fantastic piece of writing.

[GooseyLoosey]

Yes and it is sad rather than salacious. Humber is not portrayed as a dirty old man at all and that is what makes the book interesting.

[IThinkOfHappyWhenIThinkOfYou]

I've read it but I haven't seen the film.

It's written in the 1st person so there is a justification after the fact of 'she was asking for it'. He says something along the lines of him not even being her first. I think she is pre teen, she is certainly pre pubescent. You know he knows he is doing something wrong by the way he is contriving to get in a situation where he can have sex with her. I can't remember the details but I think there was stuff about waiting for her to fall asleep or even drugging her. But all the way through he twists her normal behaviour into serious, earnest flirting.

[HumphreyCobbler]

it is so brilliantly written

English wasn't even his first language, I find that amazing.

Have not read it since I was a parent though, I wonder if I would be able to just see the artistry of it in the same way? I was thinking about The Girl in The Swing the other day too, there is a book one couldn't see in the same light after having children.

[mummytime]

Yes. It is a very very disturbing book, it really gets you in the mind of a paedophiles.

No she doesn't ask for it, she is groomed, as is her mother. He thinks she asks for it as "she stirs" certain feelings in him, pretty much as if I decided I was justified in groping Brad Pitt because he looks (looked) good.

I would only recommend reading it if you are in a good place.

[Minty82]

Yes - in that I've read it and it's a wonderful book, not that I would think less of you for reading it! It's written from his point of view, so manipulates the reader into almost believing that perspective. It's not a defence of paedophilia at all; just a demonstration of how great literature can draw you so utterly into its world that you almost don't realise the horror of what you're accepting.

[christinarossetti]

I read it some 20 years ago when I was in a Nabokov period and I agree with those who say that it's a stunning work of literature. I read it in the context of his other books, so that gave me a particular perspective on it, I guess.

I was very hesitant about reading it because I thought it was 'about paedophilia' and surprised myself by loving it. I may respond differently now, and indeed when life gives me a chance, it's a book that I really want to read again.

Have never wanted to see the film though.

[crispsarenotoneofyour5aday]

We read it at our work book club and I have to say when it was suggested I thought it was as you described. That could not be further from the truth. I found it a very uncomfortable read but beautifully written. I found the way Humbert Humbert recognises that his obsession is wrong but continues anyway infuriating. When Lolita is left but no one but him to rely on he takes complete advantage of her and when he admits that he knows she cries every night while he pretends to sleep it is heart-breaking. He is unconcerned with her feelings - just focussing on his own. I would definitely recommend it - pushed me way out of my comfort zone. Oh - and I would never think any less of anyone for wishing to find out about a book by reading it themselves rather than relying on others/a film view of it!

[AnonymousBird]

I assumed that eveyone had read it!!! I've read it twice at least.

It is really worth reading, brilliant.

[Sallystyle]

Yes. My husband read it last year too.

[Kirk1]

My DD is 12, and I was abused at age 11 so I was worried it may be more than I can cope with. DH keeps telling me I shouldn't read things that make me angry. I think I will read it, it's on my Kindle so I may as well!

[Lancelottie]

I first read it as a child myself (wrong time to do so -- don't recommend it at that age) and remember his self-justification along the lines of 'In the end, it was she who seduced me.' Does he recognise that he's wrong, Crisps? I obviously found that aspect less memorable.

It's a haunting book.

[Lancelottie]

Good grief. I've just googled it and though I was wrong about the start of the phrase, 'it was she who seduced me' is spot on. Clearly it was disturbing and wrong enough to stand out from the rest of the book for all those years.

[mummytime]

Kirk1 in your circumstances I would be very careful. If it makes you uncomfortable put it down, and have something good to fill your thoughts with afterwards.

[MamaMary]

It's creepy, disgusting and not that well written. I felt grubby after reading it and wished I hadn't read it. It's the opposite of uplifting.

I then made the mistake of reading other work by the same author which was pornographic. The man's a perv.

[mrsbugsywugsy]

It's a great book imo. It is written in the first person, and the narrator believes that Lolita has seduced him. However there are plenty of clues throughout that this is not really the case, and that Humbert is deluded.

It is more disturbing that the film imo because in the book Lolita is younger than she appears in the film.

Given your personal history I'm not sure whether you should read it or not.

[Minty82]

'Not that well written'?!!! I went and found my copy to pick out a passage to counter that statement but couldn't choose one - every page is lyrical, thought-provoking and operating on multiple levels. Yes, it's deeply disturbing - it would be worrying if a novel dealing with that subject wasn't. But you might as well say that you don't recommend Madame Bovary because cheating on your husband isn't very nice. It's utterly beside the point.

[Sallystyle]

Not that well written? huh?

[NellyBluth]

It is an incredible book, very well written, gripping in its own way, and one of the most fascinating of the 'unreliable narrator' novels. Yes, it is disturbing, but of course given the date it was published, it isn't remotely graphic. I can't imagine anyone would think badly of someone who had read it. But given your personal history I would read it carefully, and stop if anything makes you feel uncomfortable.

[crispsarenotoneofyour5aday]

Hi Lancelottie - my take on it was that from the very beginning of the book he alludes to the fact that he knows that he is wrong and it is the very fact that he justifies it to himself is what makes it all so sordid. He talks about her being "miserably unattainable" and also blames his genes for the way he feels about young girls. Am I right in remembering that the "she seduced me" line is when he is defending himslef to the jury? Always interesting to see others' views on books - two people can have such different takes on things. Another one we did was "In Cold Blood" - again, not something I would have ever read left to my own devices but has us talking in the corridors for weeks!

[drjohnsonscat]

I found it pretty horrible. I don't buy it as a portrayal of sadness - author gets quite a bit out of his portrayal of lolita as has popular culture ever since. "Oooh look sexualised child - but it's literature so legitimate, goodie!"

[sleepyhead]

Nobody who has read it could think she was "asking for it". It's utterly transparent (imo) that HH is deluding himself. I think the fact it's told from his point of view makes her complete lack of culpability even more obvious.