Book Name : Lolita
What is it about : An open written confession of a perverted child molester in every meaning of the word - forbidden passion, admission of guilt, a plea for clemency, frank disclosure of dark desires, self-justification yet insistent of any wrong-doing. The tale of Humbert's lust and desires exploded over a twelve year-old tomboy / maiden / nymphet - Lolita, during his sojourn in an American provincial town. This stay was cut short following the road death of Humbert's all-so-righteous and rather un-attractive religious wife (Lo's mother), "father and daughter" then embarked on an American motor trip (twice !), staying in Nowhere-ville, Insomnia Lodges and One-horse-towns; making these guesthouses and country houses their love nests. Alas, after two years of mindless travelling, Lo left without a word, leaving nothing but grief and anger to the vengeful forlorn Humbert. In hot pursuit, could Humbert catch up with Lo and slay the fiend who helped her escape ? The final execution style gun-shots and scuffle was a piece of masterful writing ! Read on.
Some thoughts after having read the book : Normally, in the local Library when I successfully plucked up my courage and picked out a "Classics" as supposed to go for a commercial joviality of an easy read, a range of emotions and reading expectations would pass through my thoughts, heart and body - in no particular order - awe, challenge, dread, hard slog ahead, elation, reward, satisfaction and eventual triumph. Literally - no pain no gain as were the cases of my perseverance over Tolstoy, Greene, Golding, Pushkin, Chekov, Kafka etc. And it was with such expectancy in mind as Lolita, with its heavy hard cover, tiny prints and rather numerous pages, landed in my check-out basket. Yes, a good few weeks of laborious grind and concentration awaited. But alas, Lolita turned out to be that rare hybrid, an up-roaring entertainment as well as a heavy weighted Classic !
Would I recommend this book to you : A book for you if you had always wanted to know the twisted morality and warped mindset of a person scarred by childhood losses and his psychological dissection of un-controllable lust and perverse thoughts and actions; read this book for its beautiful and witty prose ("... my mouth to the dentist was a splendid cave of priceless treasures ..."). But if offensive depiction of bare encounters, sexual exploitation and gross depravity against minors disgusted you, stay away ! Or better still, why not watch the film - I watched the 1997 Jeremy Irons version, the screen adaption was excellent !
