"the greatest love story between an Vladimir Nabokov and his readers..."

One of the best things about literature is its life shelf longevity. While reading Lolita, many people have encountered me wanting to discuss a certain aspect or theme. I can talk to my grandmother about Vladimir Nabokov, a stranger about the differences between love and sex, teachers about the Edgar Allan Poe, Shakespeare and other poetical references, and even those who have not read it and are curious about the most obvious aspect- pedophilia. This book is a masterpiece, a 4-d puzzle, and a meta meta meta-fiction. I am grateful for those who decided annotations were needed and dedicated such time to deconstructing Nabokov.

I read on my friend’s version of Lolita that was probably “the greatest American love story.” I think this is true but not in the most obvious sense. I feel Nabokov has an intimate relationship with his readers and this is the great love story. The feeling of being inside Nabokov’s brain can be addictive and obsessive like the love in his book. I know I am fascinated with his accomplishments in and out side the book: learned English in his thirties, speaks about four other languages, figured out the crossword puzzle in German, named most of the butterflies, literate in many authors, poets and literature, and despises Freud- just to name a few. And I love that he makes us his own words. I’ve always wanted to do that because if it makes sense- then it just does.

The whole controversy about him not being American doesn’t bother me because he captures the lifestyles and values of Americans so well. For example, Catherine Haze’s need for a husband, jealous behavior (which can also be connected to her harsh treatment to her daughter), interest in material objects, and her annoying failure to speak French.

As for Humbert, let’s ask the gentlemen of the jury… and I will let you know my decision at the end of the trial, I mean, book. His language is too beautiful not to connect with him. His acknowledgement of how wrong his feelings for girl-childs (or as he likes to justify as nymphlets) gives the reader some emotional insight to the universal ups and downs of falling in love, being infatuated with some one. I watched an interview with Nabokov and like a great fiction writer; he does not give away too much inside information because he leaves it to the reader to interpret. This book is incredibly postmodern. I can not wait to re-read it in the future wheni have enough time to deconstruct and analyze with closer attention to detail. I often hear from previous readers that every time its read, Lolita evokes a different emotion- sad or loving, inspirational to writers and with endless themes. This is a writing and literature major’s handbook to meta-fiction, inspiration created by an author’s life and contributions, and also just a great read.