After a much needed hiatus, I am back on the Time list! I think one of the keys to success with this list is to infuse other books. Here's what I have read since my last post:
Spilling Clarence by Anne Ursu
Although not on the Time list, but this book was written by a Minnesota author. It was a sci-fi style book, about what would happen if one could remember everything - all the hurt and injustice of life, along with all the good moments. I thought the concept was neat, but the book left me wanting more. I do have Ursu's second book waiting for me to try it out, so we'll see how the next story turns out.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
This is on the Time list, and I must say, quite the salacious novel! I loved how the narrator tried to lead you through his twisted thoughts for why he wanted, needed, had to have Delores Haze. The way Humbert described the "nymphets" - young girls ripe for pedophile activities - makes one's skin crawl. He said that these girls were like a third sex, that they did this on purpose, and grew up to become ladies of the night or some similar sad fate.
Humbert fell in love as a young boy with a girl his age. He claims she was as passionate for him as he was for her, but they were unable to consummate. So it was this unrequited love that he went on to emulate in the form of young prostitutes, peeping on young girls, watching girls play in the park or school grounds, and finally in Lolita.
Delores (or Lolita as the narrator calls her) seemed to be sullen, dirty, crude girl. She did seem to enjoy the game of cat and mouse, until Humbert caught her. According to Humbert, nymphets wanted to be pursued and desired. From what I could tell, Lolita saw Humbert as a way to escape from the ordinary, and to upset her mother. Humbert married Delores' mother as a way to be close to Delores.
The book goes on to describe the sexual adventures of the couple, how they travelled cross country following Delores' mother's death (no, Humbert did not murder her, although he certainly had his share of black thoughts). Found it interesting how genteel the description of sex was. Humbert was not crude as I expected he would be, and the descriptions were much more poetic than I expected. I assume this was how the narrator justified his actions.
Delores becomes more and more the teenager as the book progresses, with the rebellion and attitude. At one point, she connects with a former neighbor’s son, Quilty. I had a hard time understanding how that connection was made, since that character didn't seem to be present in the earlier parts of the book when Humbert and Lolita lived down the street from Quilty's family. Being discreet as the author was, it is entirely possible I missed that. Anyway, this was entirely the undoing of Humbert, as Quilty stole Delores, and continued to put her in situations that make one very squeamish.
In the end, Lolita has found a man closer to her own age of 17 and Humbert makes one last futile attempt to win her back. After this fails, Humbert confronts Quilty about his involvement in stealing Lolita - Humbert's big concern is that Lolita was taken from him before her time, not so much what was done to her while she was gone.
The book is written from the perspective of Humbert the pedophile writing his memoires before he is sentenced by a judge. He was capture by the police after drunkenly reeling off the road following his encounter with Quilty. What I found most interesting about the narrator, was that he knew all along what he was doing was wrong. He used the word rapist to describe the sentence he would give himself if he were the judge. But interestingly, he showed no remorse. It makes me wonder if that is how serial killers and true rapists feel.
I liked the twisted perspective Humbert had in the book, and thought it was a very interesting read.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Yes, I finally gave in and read Twilight... And I have to say, I'm sold. Although the book is definitely written for younger people, the dialog between the characters pulls you in. I'm not going to say more than that, as pretty much everyone has read this book by now. I do think I'll read the next one. The series has the draw of Harry Potter, but doesn't hold the same level of magic and mystery for me.
What have you been reading lately?
Mary
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