"Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov (story reading)

The risk of reading this is that people won't get it. Lolita is a love story and a very sincere and touching one, too: the fact that Humbert Humbert is a despicable aberration of humanity notwithstanding. When playing the character one has to be sympathetic, but that isn't an endorsement of that character's persona. The reaction that bothers me is, "Hey, that's creepy" and my response would be, "'You're observant. But what's your point?" If there's a non-creepy way of playing a child molester then I don't know what it is.

The references to a former girl child and seraphs is from Poe's poem Annabel Lee.

Lolita was one of the - say four or five - greatest novels of the 20th century. My reason for posting this is that a hitherto unpublished novel called "The Original of Laura" by Vladimir Nabokov has just come to light. It will be published on November 17th, 2009 - about two weeks from now.

Nabokov had requested that upon his death the work be destroyed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Original_of_Laura
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/oct/25/nabokov-original-of-laura-mccrum

He had also tried to burn Lolita but his wife stopped him. You can read the rest of Lolita here:
http://www.vahidnab.com/lolita.pdf

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Lolita
• Nabokov

[blazehok]

As an English major I was assigned this book no less than three times for various courses. Each time I was amazed at Nabokov's brilliance. Thank you for reminding me-thinking I just might read it again, this time to appreciate the beauty of the writing, not for study.

[SabraMagdalena]

Thank you for posting this; a fantastic reading for a fantastic novel!

[veganshits]

"you can always count on murderer for a fancy prose style."

greatest line ever written.

[swantonist]

this is my favorite book

[STREAKER123]

Thank you. Gave away my first copy to my dear friend Virginia. I need to pick up another for my bookshelf.

[digestyourflesh]

the best passage of the book, IMO. so beautiful.

[palefire1313]

beautiful. I memorized this passage for a theater tryout, but my presentation was nothing compared to your reading!

[feverxchill]

@blazehok Which courses? I'm an English major and I will die of happiness the day I am assigned this book... and not just because I've read it multiple times and know it inside out. =P

[craxmen]

That first paragraph is just delicious. The consonance, the rhythm, the sensuousness of the meaning! Unforgettable.

[weebeasty]

Your reading is amazing. Truly, your voice and this language together is a wonderful thing thank you so much.

[TheArchDandy]

Beautiful. Thank you so much for posting this. I'd hoped that you would, after you mentioned it on your profile. I'm so happy right now- It's my favorite book, and a joy to read, read out loud, or listen to. This is a great reading- your voice is wonderful, as always. Here, it lends the words more depth, if possible.