Lolita
by Vladimir Nabokov · first published 1777
35% recommend61% neutral4% critical
Why HN recommends it
Lyrical, beautiful English prose from a Russian-born author, narrated by an unreliable, repellent narrator. Suits readers who enjoy Joyce-style literary language and can separate a work's merit from its protagonist.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Lolita is a 1955 novel written by Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov. The novel is notable for its controversial subject: the protagonist and unreliable narrator, a middle-aged literature professor under the pseudonym Humbert Humbert, is obsessed with a 12-year-old girl, Dolores Haze, whom he sexually molests after he becomes her stepfather. "Lolita" is his private nickname for Dolores. The novel was originally written in English and first published in Paris in 1955 by Olympia Press. Later it was translated into Russian by Nabokov himself and published in New York City in 1967 by Phaed
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…language was, and still is atrocious; I ended up taking most the required English, and Literature courses my last semester. My first introduction to Russian Liturature was years later. I checked out Lolita by Valadimire Nabokov. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Well, after reading the book, I finally appreciated good writing. I found his writing beautiful, and easy to read. I wonder why…
on “Why are there few courses in Soviet literature at American universities? (2014)” ↗Pale Fire and Lolita only have a handful of characters. If you have time this summer, I recommend reading Lolita. It's more than just a novel about a perverted obsession.
on “The Meanest Things Vladimir Nabokov Said About Other Writers” ↗…systems, but at an applied level. Shows how rules in modern society can have unintended negative consequences when hidden negative feedback loops emerge from the complex system they are embedded in. 13. Lolita (Nabokov) - a brilliant novel from many points of view. Although the topic is controversial, it is a book that had to be written. 14. The prince (Machiavelli) - an interesting read. It was intended as…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Slaughterhouse-5 by Kurt Vonnegut 1984 by George Orwell To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway An American Tragedy…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2013” ↗Just a book recommendation: If you want to get a feel for Nabokov (and his depth), have a look at the "Annotated Lolita" - the editor points out so many details and allusions as to make your head spin. https://www.amazon.com/Annotated-Lolita-Revised-Updated/dp/0... For something ever so slightly lighter, consider "Pnin";…
on “What the feud between Nabokov and Edmund Wilson says about translation” ↗…I'm reading Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor, because O'Connor is wicked and funny. Favorite book? As others have pointed out, this is a ridiculous question -- my favorite kind! Some books I love: Lolita, As I Lay Dying, The Ghost Writer, Goodbye, Columbus, Blood Meridian, Anna Karenina, Where I'm Calling From, Huck Finn, Dubliners and on and on. I read mostly literary novels, but I read fairly widely…
on “Do you read?” ↗…captivating book. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Made_to_Stick Tip: Read the extensive excerpts on the official website — http://www.madetostick.com/excerpts/ — and, if you enjoy them, read the full book. - Lolita is one of those books everyone knows about, even if they haven't read it. I decided to sit down with this beast of a book and am glad I did. It's a great story and will really get your moral cogs ticking…
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books of 2010?” ↗Fiction : * Lolita by Vladmir Nabakov ; an absolute master class. * The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling ; one for the memories! Non Fiction : * Letters of Note by Shawn Usher; a compendium of wonderful letters from…
on “Ask HN: What are your greatest books?” ↗If you acquire actual knowledge, then yes reading Lolita or Mein Kampf can make you kinder, because you realize the subtlety and banality of horrifying individuals. Certainly, taking away such knowledge would make you less who you are. I would say that more…
on “The Phineas Gage effect” ↗And they did the Penguin 50 yr anniversary edition [1]. It has some useful notes at the end, too. I found the notes in the Annotated Lolita [2] very helpful, unfortunately I haven't really found an annotated version of M&M (beyond what's in [1]). [1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143108271 [2] https://www.amazon.com/Annotated-Lolita-Revised-Updated/dp/0...
on “Life Got You Down? Time to Read The Master and Margarita” ↗…buy more. I even got rid of my beloved Austen anthology that's how seriously I was paring down. I figured I can get everything I love on e-format. I kept three physical books I'll never be without: Lolita, Madame Bovary, Les Misérables. Merely looking at the words does something to me. "-- and I looked and looked at her, and knew as clearly as I know I am to die, that I loved her more than anything I…
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗I just finished reading one book which I am sure would have never existed if it had been written/produced by multiple people. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. A masterpiece. It took him many years before he was able to find a publisher (a French one specialized in pornography novels) Some of his relatives were shocked by the book. I…
on “Ask HN: Why are fiction books generallly written by a single individual?” ↗I like your take. I agree about the status of the novel: it’s taken a permanent place as one of the supreme artistic monuments in the history of the English language. Like much of Nabokov’s work, Lolita is in part a puzzle, with traps set for the hasty reader. It may not be about what it seems to be about.
on “When Jawaharlal Nehru Read ‘Lolita’” ↗…piece from the moral value of its protagonist. This piece reminds me of Charles Bukowski's books about the "lowlife" Hank Chinaski. Another more extreme example of a good book with a shitty protagonist is Lolita, which IMO couldn't be published today or Nabokov would be shunned and ostracised as a paedophile. (None of this is to say you need to like the blog post, you might hate it on its own merits, but I definitely…
on “It's not what the world needs right now” ↗…indictment of any sort except if the style doesn't serve the substance. So yes, purple prose is sometimes required and can be used correctly, just ask James Joyce or Hitchens or remember that first sentence in Lolita, for example. Furthermore, almost every piece of writing you've probably enjoyed went through an editor or several professional editors. You'd be shocked to read early or even late drafts. (Also, a…
on “Hunyuan3D 2.0 – High-Resolution 3D Assets Generation” ↗