Review: Lolita

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

First off, I would like to say that this is not a book that I would recommend to the average reader. It is VERY controversial. It is for that reason that I chose to read it. I was well aware of the subject matter before I opened this book. I wasn't quite prepared for how disturbing it is though.

Lolita is the story of Humbert Humbert, a pedophile, a murderer, and a European who has migrated to America. He falls in love with his landlady's 12 year old daughter, Dolores Haze aka Lolita. He ends up marrying the landlady, whom he despises, to be closer to the child. After the accidental death of his new wife, he becomes the sole custodian to Lolita, since she has no other living relatives. They then spend the next two years traveling across the entire United States in order to hide their relationship. She eventually leaves Humbert, and he spends three years trying to locate her. When he finally does find her she is 17, married, and very pregnant. Lolita ends up moving to Alaska with her husband and Humbert ends up on death row for killing the man (another pedophile) who originally stole her away from him.

Despite the story line, the book is beautifully written! I honestly think that it is the language of the book that keeps Lolita on lists such as the 100 Best of the Century (although, the story keeps it on the most frequently banned list). It was a definitely a book worth reading, and although it was very disturbing, the author does not give an overly descriptive account of Humbert and Lolita's relationship. It is by no means pornographic. The author tackled the subject very tactfully. And even though a large part of me wanted to throw the book in the trash, the language kept me reading. Although the book is based on the subject of pedophilia, and is narrated by a confessed pedophile, it does not advocate the practice at all. Humbert himself, thinks that he is disgusting and knows that there is something wrong with him. He expresses an incredible amount of guilt for stealing Lolita's childhood.

Anyway, like I said, I can't really recommend this book, because of what it is about. But if you do choose to read it, read the entire thing or else you will be left with the wrong impression.