Challenge: 50 Books discussion

Alright, Ladies & Gentlemen! One of this month's group reads is Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. We'll make the start date for this read as June 4th. If that's too soon for some of you to get your hands on a copy then let me know & we'll set the date back a bit. Unless of course you feel comfortable enough to catch up on your own. Again, we'll shoot for a 4-week reading period.

Here's the wiki for the book: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita
& Here's the wiki for Vladimir Nabokov: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir...

If everyone wanting to join in on the read would just pop in & say "Hi" that would be great! The more friendly & social we are, the more involved our discussions will be & the more fun we'll all have!

Whoa. Sorry about that. I was pretty much dead on my feet by the time I got home from work yesterday, so I didn't get this posted sooner. Well here it is!

Timeline

June 4th-10th - Part One: Chapters 1-18
June 11th-17th - Part One: Chapter 19-Part Two: Chapter 1
June 18th-24th - Part Two: Chapter 2-19
June 25th-30th - Part Two: Chapter 20-End

As Always, if you read ahead of the timeline, please refrain from dropping spoilers! :)

I read this one a few years back but I'll lurk. ;)

I've read this book years ago and absolutely adored it. This is the book that made me fall in love with Nabokov's writing. I'll be lurking around too. :p

When we're done this one if anyone wants to read Pale Fire I am up for that!

Hello - I'm Alexia from Canada. This will be my first time reading this book and I am truly looking forward to it. I may be starting a bit late (extremely busy week at work next week, but I'll start on the 7th.

My favorite novel of all time. I have a slight obsession with it even.

Tim, I'll do pale fire with you once I'm settled in.. we bought a house. :P

Lolita is such a good book and there is a ton to talk about...even though it can be uncomfortable.

Haha! Bring on the uncomfortableness!

Absolutely! I've never read this either but I've been keen to read it for ages. I've taken a sneaky peek and I'm liking it so far.

I have never read this book but I have heard so much about it! Can't wait.

I read this book 7 years ago or so and can't wait to read it again and see what new perspective may form!

Seeing some new faces so far & I'm loving it! It seems like quite a few people have already read Lolita, which is great. But there are still a few of us that will be reading it for the first time so hopefully the different amounts of exposure will bring some different elements to our discussions!

Hi! I never read this book. But I will read it for this group read.

Hi all . . . I started Lolita last year and didn't finish. I think I'll resume and try to finish with you all.

Lolita is the most beautifully written novel I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I've read it twice and can't wait to read it again. I must admit, I didn't appreciate it as much the first time around. Lolita is probably the only novel that really moves me.

Hi I have never read Lolita but have had a copy for several years. I have picked it up but have never started it. I have already read so many of the choice in this group or the others that I belong to, so this must be the right time!!

Hi everyone! Ive been meaning to read this for sometime - looking forward to participating in this group read :)

I'm in! Wont be able to comment much - May / June is the busy time of year for me at work; so it will be great to have sometime else to focus on!!

Hi! I've read this book before, but absolutely looking forward to reading it again.

Alright, the timeline is posted in Message 2!

Tim wrote: "When we're done this one if anyone wants to read Pale Fire I am up for that!"

Tim, I would definitely be up for reading Pale Fire as well.

I wish I could read and understand French. I have a sad feeling that I'm missing something, especially in his conversations with the French prostitute. Is it crtical to the story or am I okay to skim over it? Maybe I need to download a French dictionary...

Marissa-dono wrote: "Whoa. Sorry about that. I was pretty much dead on my feet by the time I got home from work yesterday, so I didn't get this posted sooner. Well here it is!


Timeline
Yikes! I missed this earlier...I am alsost done with part one!!

June 4th-10th - Part One: C..."

Alright, everybody! First week's discussion question!

Why might Nabokov have chosen to name his protagonist “Humbert Humbert”? Does the name’s parodic double rumble end up distancing us from its owner’s depravity? Is it harder to take evil seriously when it goes under an outlandish name? What uses, comic and poetic, does Nabokov make of this name in the course of Lolita?

Belinda wrote: "I wish I could read and understand French. I have a sad feeling that I'm missing something, especially in his conversations with the French prostitute. Is it crtical to the story or am I okay to sk..."

Belinda, I felt the same way. This novel actually inspired me to learn French, so about a year ago I purchased several French workbooks and put myself to task. At the end of nine months (of diligently studying), I now have at least a 35% reading level of comprehension of the French language. I still have a very difficult time understanding the spoken language.

Pollopicu wrote: "Belinda wrote: "I wish I could read and understand French. I have a sad feeling that I'm missing something, especially in his conversations with the French prostitute. Is it crtical to the story or..."

Do you think that understanding the French phrases in Lolita is necessary to the storyline? I feel like I'm missing something...

No, I really don't. I mean, sure, understanding the phrases will enrich your reading experience if you love Lolita the way I do, but I loved the novel without understanding any of it.

Marissa-dono wrote: "Alright, everybody! First week's discussion question!

Why might Nabokov have chosen to name his protagonist “Humbert Humbert”? Does the name’s parodic double rumble end up distancing us from its o..."

Ah yes, "Humbert the Hummer"! I think you could call Humbert anything and he would still be a perverted little man! Maybe I haven't read enough but I'm very nauseated by him. He seems to have no shame in how he feels of Lolita.

You could always try plugging the french parts into Google Translate. I read this about 3 years ago and forgot about the french bits.

I have just discovered that he actually has sex with her - is that right? I seem to be showing my naivety. I always thought that this was just in his head - his lust and desire for her. I never knew it went that far! This has just made things so much worse. One word - ew! Mind you, I'm not a big fan of Lolita herself either. I know I wasn't having those sorts of thoughts and experiences at 12 years old! Maybe that's why this is such a confronting story... but I'll keep on reading.

Belinda wrote: "I have just discovered that he actually has sex with her - is that right? I seem to be showing my naivety. I always thought that this was just in his head - his lust and desire for her. I never kne..."

I had the feeling for the longest time that the whole thing was in his head too. I am not really sure at what point I realized otherwise. As far as Lolita, it seems to me that she sure has been playing the little seductress!

Belinda wrote: "I have just discovered that he actually has sex with her - is that right? I seem to be showing my naivety. I always thought that this was just in his head - his lust and desire for her. I never kne..."

I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't realize that he actually had sex with Lolita. When I first read this novel I thought that was just his imagination! After realizing what was going on I felt a little dense for not getting it right away. It made me hate Humbert even more.

Thank you Marissa-dono for moderating this thread!

I read Lolita a couple of years ago and thought a lot about the popular references to a "Lolita" character. I think the references are perpetuated by people that haven't actually read the book and just think they know what it is about from the back cover summary. I don't think Lolita was a seductress; I think HH is a pervert. I don't think there are any descriptions of her that are not through the lense of a pedophile. Certainly any actions she takes would make sense as victim of a practical kidnapping and sexual abuse. Thoughts?

Someone made an interesting comment the other day about the character of Lolita and I tend to agree. Lolita is who she is as HH has made her become that way. She doesn't know any other way. You're so right about HH though. A shameless pervert that does not see that his thoughts and actions are so wrong.

That's exactly it, Belinda. How could Lolita's character have developed any other way if HH is the only adult she has in her young life?

Lolita has her mother in her life for those early formative years.

Rose