Mary Vladimir Nabokov (translated from the Russian by Michael Glenny, in collaboration with Nabokov) Penguin Great Loves series (Aus, US) 9780141032900 (First published under pen name V Sirin in 1926.) Love is part attraction, part emotion and much imagination. In Mary, Vladimir Nabokov's first novel, a Russian man in Berlin, Ganin, recounts his one passionate love affair, … Continue reading Vladimir Nabokov’s Mary
Vladimir Nabokov
Guest post: Splinters and Ore, by JJ DeCeglie
I adhere to old Henry Miller and I quote: I believe that today more than ever a book should be sought after even if it has only one great page in it: we must search for fragments, splinters, toenails, anything that has ore in it, anything that is capable of resuscitating the body and soul. … Continue reading Guest post: Splinters and Ore, by JJ DeCeglie
Nabokov, you sly ol’ dog
How can someone be this amusing (and amused) and articulate? I'm in love and fascinated and repulsed all at the same time, just as I was reading Lolita... While we're here: Nabokov in audio. Martin Amis on Nabokov. Shelley Winters breaks my heart in Kubrick's film version (for which Nabokov wrote the screenplay): What say you?
Literary heroes
Today was the first day of the Overland Masterclass for Progressive Writers. There are nine of us, giving (hopefully) constructive feedback of each others' stories, plus taking in feedback from Overlandassociate editor Rjurik Davidson. Each day, an established writer also participates in the workshop, and today it was Tony Birch. Tomorrow will be the incomparable … Continue reading Literary heroes
Humbert's Journey of Self – a mini analysis of Lolita
Humbert Humbert deceptively narrates a journey of self in Lolita (Nabokov 2006) attempting to justify actions that the reader may find morally problematic. He is both aware of the societally placed reader, whom he often refers to as judge or juror (eg. on the very first page) and he weaves a seductive lyrical web to entice … Continue reading Humbert's Journey of Self – a mini analysis of Lolita
