Finally I read a review from Amanda that had me moving closer and closer to actually reading, or in this case listening, as Amanda strongly suggested the audiobook with Jeremy Irons narrating. Yeah, the idea of Irons' voice pushed me over the edge and I purchased the book on CD.
I listened to the first third last May while driving to and from work. And boy, oh boy, did I feel dirty. Irons' downright seductive voice is just naughty. Throw in the fact that the relationship is between a grown man and a 12 year old, and I often felt like I needed to shower after listening.
Unfortunately, my adventures in audio for this book ended when the school year ended as there was no way in hell I was going to listen to Lolita with my one year old in the car (and she was always in the car with me). Plus, once I listened to Irons' narrating the, uh, culmination of his fantasy, I really really really needed a break from the book. I had managed to detach myself from the reality of a 12 year old love interest for a good chunk of the book, but when what we know is going to happen actually happens, I lost that separation and for a minute my brain shied away in rejection.
That break lasted 9 months. Then I devoured the final 2/3rds of the book over four days at the beginning of February. What a read. Seriously, what a read. What's strange is that the most striking feature of this novel is not the illicit, pseudo-incestual relationship between Humbert and Lolita, what captures the imagination the most is the language. The way Humbert speaks (aka the way Nabokov writes) is ingenious. He artfully plays with words, the structure of sentences, the use of allusion, the creation of new words. Humbert's voice is everything in this novel. First of all because he is the one telling the story. Second because it is so appealing. Seriously appealing.
As I listened to part and read part, I feel a strange need to tell you which way you should go: audio or print; however, I can't make up my mind. Irons voice just elevates the experience, but I read so much faster than I listed that I am better able to immerse myself in the story. Do what I did, listen a bit and read a bit.
If you are holding off on reading this because of the subject matter, I urge you to reconsider. The story is secondary to the language, and really the language makes the story quite palatable.
Move question: I have heard that in the movie version, Lolita is played by an actress who appears more 17 than 12 and who has sex appeal. If this is the case, I refuse to watch the film. The whole point of the story is that Lolita is not sexual; she is a child, a child who none but another Humbert would desire. Any recommendations regarding the film version?
I tried to watch the movie a couple of times, but it was just too slimy for me. I think it was the guy who played Humbert. If they had found someone more likable, maybe I could have made it through! And yes, Sue Lyon was a total older sex kitten!
ReplyDeleteWhile it makes me seem like a despicable person, I think having Lolita be a sex kitten ruins the story in a way, so no watching for me.
DeleteWait Jill--is Humbert supposed to be likeable? LOL!! I read this one several years ago and felt much the same way you did Trisha. It really is a work of art and there's a reason it has stuck as a classic. I also bought Iron's narration on Amanda's recommendation (after already having read the book) and am looking forward to it one day.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it just crazy that H. is likeable? I felt guilty for liking him the whole time I was reading.
DeleteI don't think I could handle listening to Irons narrate the story. It's hard enough to read in print form! But it's a fantastic book, even if one that I haven't wanted to reread very often -- Nabokov does such an incredible job with the writing, of making Humbert Humbert sound plausible even when you know the terrible deeds he's doing.
ReplyDeletePlausible is the perfect word Jenny. His deviance seems if not natural, then at least partially acceptable for so much of the story.
DeleteI think your reaction to the "culmination" is exactly what Nabokov intended. The fact that HH can at all make a reader disconnect his narration from the fact that Lolita is a 12 year old girl, even for a short while, is a masterstroke of the author, and then he uses that power to smack you over the head and say WTF are you thinking?? From that moment on, while HH tries to keep you "on his side" as it were, you just detest him more and more and more.
ReplyDeleteI've only read this twice. It's one of those books that, like Jenny said, it's hard to reread often. But it's powerful, and the writing is amazing. I loved the audio because it helped me to slow down. The first time I read it, I think a good half the book went over my head. I was younger then, but also, I just read too fast to catch it all. The audio really helped me to deepen my understanding of the text.
Perfect description Amanda. Nabokov was definitely a master of writing; any suggestions for other works of his I should read?
DeleteYou're a brave woman! I have read a couple of excerpts from Lolita in another book on reading the classics, but have never felt pulled to attempt the whole thing. I think the fact that I have sexual abuse in my history would make it too difficult of a read for me.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see how a history of abuse would make reading this even more difficult (and I'm sorry to hear it Carrie).
DeleteOoh, the library has this on audiobook! I'll be sure to check it out. Though I worry about the concerns you mentioned, I feel like this is one of those books that EVERYONE says is so masterfully written that it seems like a must-read.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think it is worth reading - but slowly and with some wonderfully innocent reads in between.
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