Today I'm talking about Nabakov's Lolita. This book delves deeply into the mind of a monster committing such atrocities as child molestation and rape. The main character, Humbert Humbert, is so far removed from society that he believes he is doing this out of love for the child. Naturally, this book is EXTREMELY disturbing and horrific. I've found love for this book because of the way Nabaov writes, the way every sentence of the book is dedicated to Humbert Humbert's complete insanity. Even literature references made in the book are skewed to fit Humbert's depravity.
The class I'm reading for is a Kubrick class, in which we read the book/watch the movie. Today we're watching his version of Lolita, which I'm extremely excited for.
Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta. She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock. She was Lola in slacks. She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. But in my arms she was always Lolita.
Now I wish to introduce the following idea. Between the age limits of nine and fourteen there occur maidens who, to certain bewitched travelers, twice or many times older than they, reveal their true nature which is not human, but nymphic (that is, demoniac); and these chosen creatures I propose to designate as "nymphets."
I am thinking of aurochs and angels, the secret of durable pigments, prophetic sonnets, the refuge of art. And this is the only immortality you and I may share, my Lolita.
If you think you can stomach it, Lolita is one book you won't regret reading. Beautifully written American horror, in a bright Technicolor way.
