Luca Ambrosino's Reviews > Lolita
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After dusty years in my bookshelf, finally I decided to read "Lolita". I am blown away by this Vladimir Nabokov's work, ironic and dramatic at the same time. I am not shocked, nor I have found those disastrous tones of an announced tragedy that I was expecting from this book. Indeed Nabokov tells us that this work:
"... brings along no moral. For me a work of fiction exists only if it gives me what I frankly shall call aesthetic pleasure."The main character, Humbert, describes in a precise and often sarcastic way his syndrome, i.e. the uncontrollable attraction towards those he defines "nymphets" based on a rigorous combination of age, attitude and style of dress, a lethal mix that can catapult him into an abyss of irrationality. Some "normal" dalliances had in adolescence or adulthood are worthless. Something is wrong in our antihero, which plans convenience marriages or improbable assassinations just to satisfy his ecstatic passion. Playing the dual role of fugitive and pursuer in a long road trip, the wretched fate of a grotesque man takes place. A man that until the end is unable to control his insane and delirious love.
But still love.
Vote: 8

Dopo anni di polverosa presenza nel mio scaffale, decido con moderato entusiasmo di leggere questo libro. Ironico e drammatico al contempo, quest'opera di Vladimir Nabokov mi ha spiazzato. Non mi sono scandalizzato, né ho ritrovato quei toni funesti da tragedia annunciata che il titolo "Lolita" sempre suscitava in me. D'altronde ci dice Nabokov che la sua opera:
"... non si porta dietro nessuna morale. Per me un'opera di narrativa esiste solo se mi procura quella che chiamerò francamente voluttà estetica".Il protagonista, Humbert, descrive in maniera precisa e spesso sarcastica la sua sindrome, l'attrazione irrefrenabile verso coloro che definisce "ninfette" sulla base di una rigorosa combinazione di età , atteggiamento e modo di vestire, un mix letale in grado di scaraventarlo in un abisso di irrazionalità . A nulla valgono esperienze relazionali "normali" avute in adolescenza o in età adulta. Qualcosa non quadra nel bell'Humbert, che progetta matrimoni di convenienza o improbabili assassinii pur di soddisfare la sua estatica passione. Rivestendo il duplice ruolo di fuggiasco ed inseguitore in un lungo viaggio on the road, si compie il gramo destino di un uomo grottesco, incapace fino all'ultimo di dominare il suo amore insano e delirante.
Ma pur sempre amore.
Voto: 8
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I read this many years ago and tried to read it again in the last few years but it didn't go as well. I think the face that I have a teenage daughter is clouding my judgement lol......"
Ops. This comment passed away, I didn't notice it. Thanks a lot Deanna

Thanks a lot Elyse. I also read in two languages... so I will go through your reviews soon

Thanks a lot Cheri

Thank you Carmen


Thanks a lot MischaS


Thanks. I read it 5 years ago, so now I don't have in mind all the book's passages. Anyway I remember that I didn't found any "message about love". Instead, I remember I found that the protagonist was unable to dominate his insane love, and at the same time he was certainly aware of the fact that there was something wrong in it. Anyway the protagonist was described by Nabokov in a way that the reader made he wonder if the protagonist is beyond repair or not.
I read this many years ago and tried to read it again in the last few years but it didn't go as well. I think the face that I have a teenage daughter is clouding my judgement lol...
Very good review!!