Comments on: Books That Made a Difference: The Language of Lolita

By: Literary Site of the Week: 100 Best English Language Novels from 1923 to 2005 | Okie Reads

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:16:36 +0000

[...] Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (Okie Reads post on Lolita) [...]

By: Young Bill Young

Young Bill Young — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:27:41 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Kitty. You know, my niece just adores The Great Gatsby, and she said she tries to read it once a year.

I will say I like re-reading passages of certain books for the artistry of the words, or the idea that is convened. But generally, for me, re-reading books is not a particularly successful activity. The problem? I want to re-create that feeling I felt when I was reading the book the first time, and it is just never the same. I know that sounds weird: how could it ever be the same? But for whatever reason, I always leave a re-read feeling a little let down.

Now, having said that, I *do* re-read favorite short stories, and never seem to have the feeling of disappointment. What’s that all about?!?

By: Kitty

Kitty — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:09:47 +0000

It’s weird when you start thinking about something and the next thing you know you happen on an article about the very thing. I was going to comment on your Lolita saying the book for me is Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Every word is precise and just the way it should be. I still recall his description of the “eyes of Doctor T.H Eckleburg”, looming over the gray landscape, blue and gigantic. And then I happened on this article, also perfect and precise.
http://www.themillions.com/2010/08/the-great-gatsby-revisited.html

By: Young Bill Young

Young Bill Young — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:46:05 +0000

I don’t remember Lolita being dense, per se, but “weird” seems like a good description. It certainly was a groundbreaker, and that can appear odd at the time.

I do know that I read Lolita during a time in my life (college and post college years) where I thought I should be reading books that were good for my mind. (What a laugh!) In the process, I discovered some real gems——Thomas Hardy’s Return of the Native, Lolita, and the plays of Shaw, O’Neil, Hellman, Wilde, and Ebsen. I also had some painful experiences, notably with Henry James’ Washington Square, which was the first book I didn’t finish reading. (Yeah, I was one of those oddballs who thought they should finish every book they started. This was eons before Nancy Pearl’s Rule of 50. Well, Washington Square put an end to that nonsense!)

As far as teenage girls making the world go ’round, I will take your word for it, Sadie—although I have suspected this was the case for some time now. LOL

By: Sadie

Sadie — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:46:47 +0000

Intriguing! I’ve never read Lolita.It always seemed so weird and dense. Can there really be that much to say about young teenage girls? Of course, then I see most pop culture and think ‘yes of course there is, teenage girls make the world go round.’

I will have to read Lolita now!