Silke Kranz Kranz itibaren Sainala, Rajasthan, Hindistan itibaren Sainala, Rajasthan, Hindistan

This would be a really good book for teens, or for new Christians. For mature believers, it's full of good reminders, and good examples of things we should already be practicing in our walk with Christ. But don't expect it to be life-changing, or even challenging in terms of giving specific "next steps" to implement changes in your life. There are a lot of great metaphors and stories - great fodder for sermon illustrations for all you pastors out there.

** spoiler alert ** Humbert Humbert never consummated his love for Annabel Leigh as a child and is therefore obsessed by nymphets (girls 9-13). He moves from Paris to New England to write and ends up living with Charlotte Haze and her daughter Dolores (Lolita) who is 12. He's smitten. Humbert ends up marrying Charlotte (she loves him and wants him to love her or leave) who dies suddenly when she discovers Humbert secret in his diary and flees. Humbert gets Lolita from summer camp and roams the country with her (sexual affair ensues) while being pursued by someone who turns out to be Lolita's drama teacher she also is having an affair with. Lolita finally escapes with him (Clare Quilty). In the end, Clare won't commit to Lolita alone so she leaves him and winds up married and pregnant to a nice but dull fellow. HH gives them the money and property that is rightfully theres, begging Lolita to come be with him once more - she refuses. Humbert kills Quilty and dies awaiting trial. Themes: tragedy, the effects of a first love, word play, taboo sexual relations, guilt of robbing childhood away Interesting that some critics say Lolita took advantage of Humbert and not the other way around. This story is extremely engaging and haunting. Very ironic and there are almost more likable qualities in Humbert than Lolita, though that doesn't excuse his behavior. The idea that this stems from his childhood love and loss is interesting (or an excuse - HH is not exactly trustworthy). Tastefully done as far as the sex (nothing blatant) and I loved the word play. Difficult to interpret morally.

One of the more interesting moments in the story was when Cincinnatus' mother (or someone pretending to be her) visits him in prison. She tells him about 'nonnons' which she had as a child - ugly warped objects that you held up to an ugly warped mirror so that their reflection then looked beautiful and like a recognizable object. This was an important theme. Throughout the story, Cincinnatus has a 'double' - another Cincinnatus who does/says what he really wants to while he does/says what he is supposed to. His double leaves the prison to go home, moves the bolted down table, and dances with the jailer, among other things. His crime is also interesting; he's accused of 'gnostical turpitude' which seems to me being too hungry for knowledge and seeking it out. I enjoyed this book and the length (short) was just right. It's interesting how Nabokov's alternate worlds (here and also in Ada) are only a little different from reality, or different in ways that most writers ignore. It's very subtle. Themes: reality, knowledge, doubleness, questioning things, dangers of celebrating irrationality