Ive heard great & bad things about the book Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov...is it worth reading?

Question

& if it is worth reading what are some other great books in the same sort of genre? thanks

Answer 1

I think it is worth reading because it is so interesting to notice how Nabokov can make this man seem less vile by restraint in diction and how events are portrayed. Alot of people get the idea that Dolores is a real weird child-seductress, but it is difficult to tell much about her actual personality since the story is told from the point of view of Humbert. Don't go into the book expecting alot of filthy detail, because it's not like that. That's what makes it so fascinating, that the author is dealing with a very unpalatable subject, but through his character's persuasive nature the reader is lulled into finding it less obscene.

Answer 2

Well, it is worth reading. It is in fact a great book.

The narrator does not fully understand what's going on. Like many pedophioes he blames the girl for seducing him. Near the end of the novel we see him talking to an older Lolita and we see that he nearly realizes how badly he has hurt her. The readers certainly should see that.

It is also a tremendously funny book. The cat and mouse game between Humbert and Quilty is great. The death scene is also great. This is hard to say, but it is probably the funniest death scene ever written. In the first movie version Peter Sellers plays the part of Quilty marvelously.

Answer 3

It is worth reading, it is a wonderful book. One of my all time favorites. It is written really, really well, and the characters are really complex and interesting.
The only "bad" I hear about this book is that it is about pedophilia, but just because something is about a taboo subject matter doesn't make it a terrible book.

Although I don't know what sort of genre this would fit in...the unrealiable narrator? Russian literature? You may want to be a bit more specific, I think.... :)

Answer 4

The Vampire Diaires by L.J. Smith Children of the River by Linda Crew Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz Uglies trilogy by Scott Westerfeld The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Greogry Ghost Boy by Ian Lawrence Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer

Answer 5

The only way you are really going to know is if you actually read it. In the case of "Lolita", the 12-year old girl is a seductress, but as to whether or not its actually worth reading... read it, and then you will know.

Answer 6

your best bet is to go to the bookstore and pick up the book and flip through the pages,try reading it. I suggest this because, although it is a good story, it is a difficult read.

you might want to try My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the prose style is much easier to follow cause the book is much more contemporary

Answer 7

I think it is worth reading if only because you will hear references to it often throughout your life and, because you took the time to read it, you will know exactly what is being spoken of. I did not like it much either time I read it, but I have always been glad I did - for the above reason!!

Answer 8

If you want to read it as spoof on the types of motels that wer around in USA it is very funny. Given the relationships that seem to be going on between underage girls and older men today, the book seems a precursor. Lance Armstrong is reaching for 21 year olds now!!!

Answer 9

Of course it's worth reading. How else can you form an opinion? It's a long time ago since I read it so can't think of similar books.

Answer 10

It is rather over-written, and therefore somewhat hard going.

It doesn`t really belong to a genre, unless you put it into the group of novels with a "false narrator", such as "The Remains of the Day".