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Vladimir Nabokov: Look at the Harlequins!

Real Great Idea said:
I never really read Harlequins, but if I wanted to pick one up to test them, which one should I get? Any suggestions?
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Hi there Real Great Idea!
Have you read any of Nabokov's books yet? Harlequins! is a wonderful read, but it almost requires that you have at least some knowledge of Nabokov's earlier works to get the full enjoyment out of it. But of course Nabokov requires re-rereads anyway, so if you read it without the prior knowledge, you can always come back to it later, and more of it will fall into place.
Really I would have to say that Lolita is the most famous, and that is where I started. Another favorite of mine at least is Pnin. Also The Enchanter, of course if you want to, take a look at the other Nabokov threads that are located under General Fiction.
We've discussed so far:

Lolita
The Enchanter
Pnin
Glory
The Real Life of Sebastian Knight


Lolita of course was a Book of the Month on this forum.
Now another one that I've read and enjoyed is Laughter in the Dark. Plus if you want to know more about the author before reading his books, you could pick up Speak, Memory, by Nabokov, his (partial) autobiography.

I suppose that to sum up the above, I would have to say.....Start where your heart leads. Read synopsis and choose. Any of them will be a joy to read and savor.
Oh btw, there is a thread entitled "Everything Nabokov" under Author Discussions that might help point you in your desired direction.

Please post and let us know what you choose, and how you like it though, would you please? :cool:
:D
 
:rolleyes: Actually, no. :eek: I didn't even think of those books.
But here is a happy thought. :)

24o6qut.jpg


I mean, if we are going to have images of bodice rippers, lets have one that is, er interesting.
I give you Fabio.
:D
 
Er, excuse me! Why didn't someone shout me along to this thread, if you're gonna be displaying er, Fabio. Wow. :D

Oh, and Pnin is my favourite, after Lolita.
 
StillILearn said:
That actually pretty much describes my own reaction to the ending. Obviously VN was writing for his "first reader". I kinda suspected that to be the case, but he took me by surprise anyway by the simple act of making her exactly young enough to be his daughter. :rolleyes:
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SIL, and Pontalba too,
Umpteen posts later I finally understand what/who you meant by "first reader." Obvious to you, maybe, but that escaped me completely. Total Duh!
D'ya think that maybe Nabokov thought that was obvious, and didn't intend it as a puzzle at all? And only I missed it so utterly completely. That is just so obvious a clue that again, "once you see it, you can't unsee it."

Look at the Harlequins, the book of obvious clues! /shaking head/ Oy.
But, back on topic, yeah man! That Fabio is something else again! :D
Peder
 
steffee said:
Er, excuse me! Why didn't someone shout me along to this thread, if you're gonna be displaying er, Fabio. Wow. :D

Oh, and Pnin is my favourite, after Lolita.
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Er, Steffee,
Hate ta break it ta ya, but I don't think Timofey Pnin looked like Fabio. :eek: :D
Peder
 
pontalba said:
Vera...jealous? I think after the one affair VN actually did indulge in during the European days, he knew better, and she knew he knew better. So I think (and hope) that the likelihood of her jealousy was greatly reduced. JMO. :)

I think Vera was a very secure woman, and rightly so.
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I'm quoting my old post earlier in this thread, because I still don't think that VN wrote about LSS in the derogagory manner (via Vadim) to reassure Vera.
Vera, his first reader. :)
Yes, he wrote for her in general, but she was not that insecure. IMO.
 
pontalba said:
I'm quoting my old post earlier in this thread, because I still don't think that VN wrote about LSS in the derogagory manner (via Vadim) to reassure Vera.
Vera, his first reader. :)
Yes, he wrote for her in general, but she was not that insecure. IMO.
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The jury's still out on this one to my way of thinking. I'll be wanting to wait until I've read as many of his works as you all have -- plus, I think I'll want to read Vera again. Then I'll have an opinion, maybe. And then, of course, a seance might be in order.

I'm just more of a cynic than the rest of you, I guess. When things seem to be too good to be true, they usually are. That's been my experience anyway. :cool:
 
StillILearn said:
Well, yes -- Fabio is a very happy thought indeed -- but can he discuss Nabokov, do you think? :D
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We have to have faith SIL.....that he is one of the Renaissance Men, and will have as good a mind as, well, as the rest of him. ;)

Actually, I saw him years ago on one of the talk shows, and he has a sense of humor about himself, and seemed to be interesting.
 
StillILearn said:
The jury's still out on this one to my way of thinking. I'll be wanting to wait until I've read as many of his works as you all have -- plus, I think I'll want to read Vera again. Then I'll have an opinion, maybe. And then, of course, a seance might be in order.

I'm just more of a cynic than the rest of you, I guess. When things seem to be too good to be true, they usually are. That's been my experience anyway. :cool:
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Read Speak, Memory first. Then reread Vera, I honestly don't think it is my so called romantic side coming out with this. I can be just as practical as romantic, and I don't see insecurities in Vera post-affair.

I'm not closing off all other possibilities, but those are the vibes I get, and I have learned (the hard way) to trust said vibes. /shrugs shoulders/ JMO :)
 
pontalba said:
Read Speak, Memory first. Then reread Vera, I honestly don't think it is my so called romantic side coming out with this. I can be just as practical as romantic, and I don't see insecurities in Vera post-affair.
QUOTE]

Okie doke -- Speak, Memory it is. Then Vera, redux.


I see you as an incurable romantic.

:D
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StillILearn said:
pontalba said:
Read Speak, Memory first. Then reread Vera, I honestly don't think it is my so called romantic side coming out with this. I can be just as practical as romantic, and I don't see insecurities in Vera post-affair.
QUOTE]

Okie doke -- Speak, Memory it is. Then Vera, redux.


I see you as an incurable romantic.

:D
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:DIf there is a vaccine, I don't want it. :D
Trust the vibes baby. :cool:
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pontalba said:
Actually, I saw him years ago on one of the talk shows, and he has a sense of humor about himself, and seemed to be interesting.
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NOW she tells us! :eek:
(That's my green with envy)
You didn't happen to notice any stray shadow of a woman lurking in the background did you? Perhaps holding a leash? Or at least tapping her foot warningly? :confused: :D
Or maybe she was smiling happily like a Cheshire cat.
 
Ahhhhhhhh.
Speak Memory is good.
It's like the best scenes from all his novels.
The Director's Cut!
/contented happiness/
:) :) :) :) :)
 
Peder said:
You didn't happen to notice any stray shadow of a woman lurking in the background did you? Perhaps holding a leash? Or at least tapping her foot warningly? :confused: :D
Or maybe she was smiling happily like a Cheshire cat.
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Women? Women?
There were women in the vicinity?
Didn't notice. :rolleyes:
 
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