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Lolita has intrigued me for many years. I attempted to read it about four years ago, but probably made it through only half of part one. This is the kind of novel that would be perfect for an english class, or perhaps even a psychology class. There’s a lot of layers here.

I actually really liked the descriptive voice of the main character, Humbert Humbert. There were some parts that were hard to read, as I could clearly see them in my mind’s eye, but his character was certainly the most compelling.

When I tried to read it at sixteen, I didn’t like Lolita’s character at all. I think because her age in the beginning of the novel was rather close to mine, I took offense that it would characterize her as being so childish. In my rereading of the text, I can appreciate her character more. I felt for her living under the distain and jealousy of her mother, Charlotte Haze, and I certainly felt for her living under the tyranny of Humbert Humbert. I was just wishing for her to run away.

The first part of the novel was great, during the second half I lost interest at times when the plot became a little too slow. After Humbert pulled Lolita out of Beardsley in part two, I tuned out until the part where he receives news of her marriage and pregnancy towards the end. There was a good ten pages that I kind of skimmed through. I found there to be an excessive amount of driving in this novel. I was actually distracted, wondering how much the gas on their cross-country road trips would cost today.

It’s not a feel-good story, but I certainly appreciated the Humbert’s eloquent style. Humbert also frequently writes and speaks in French, usually to describe or reference something. I wish I knew French, or had the patience to use Google Translator because I’d imagine there is a good deal of Humbert’s wit that is being lost in the novel’s lack of translation.

The rest of my summer reading list is here.