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ltfitch's review against another edition
2.0
I have stopped reading this, a little over halfway through. I can't believe I am saying this, but I find it tedious. Rather than echoing themes from other Nabokov books I've read, it just seems repetitive and lacks his usual wit. I feel guilty for not liking it but I don't think I'm the only one. Oh well.
dubikan's review against another edition
5.0
It always feels silly reviewing what is clearly a masterpiece, as if I could pass judgement or somehow augment the reading of a book in which every exquisite word was painstakingly selected (my cliche words, surely, would have been mocked by Vadim Vadimovich N.).
A faux autobiography (replete, I should say, with Russian [which is, gratefully, always translated] and French [which isn't, though lucky for me my meager vocabulary was mostly sufficient]) of an author who bears a passing resemblance to Nobokov himself, this book reminded me a lot of Joseph Heller's Portrait of the Artist as an Old Man (although, of course, if there was a case of inspiration here, it went from Nabokov to Heller and not the other way around): using the memoirs of a parody of the author to answer the critiques, questions, and sycophantic praise they have encountered throughout their lives.
Reading Nabokov is a bit like reading poetry. At times I would stop trying to understand what he's saying, and just enjoy the lilt and rhythm of the words as they washed off the page, a constant torrent of whimsical, baffling, beautiful, clever and, why not, often mocking phrases.
I came across this book by accident, but I am ever so glad I did.
A faux autobiography (replete, I should say, with Russian [which is, gratefully, always translated] and French [which isn't, though lucky for me my meager vocabulary was mostly sufficient]) of an author who bears a passing resemblance to Nobokov himself, this book reminded me a lot of Joseph Heller's Portrait of the Artist as an Old Man (although, of course, if there was a case of inspiration here, it went from Nabokov to Heller and not the other way around): using the memoirs of a parody of the author to answer the critiques, questions, and sycophantic praise they have encountered throughout their lives.
Reading Nabokov is a bit like reading poetry. At times I would stop trying to understand what he's saying, and just enjoy the lilt and rhythm of the words as they washed off the page, a constant torrent of whimsical, baffling, beautiful, clever and, why not, often mocking phrases.
I came across this book by accident, but I am ever so glad I did.
abbylaceyxoxo's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
krobart's review against another edition
3.0
See my review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2016/12/01/day-1003-classics-club-spin-look-at-the-harlequins/
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2016/12/01/day-1003-classics-club-spin-look-at-the-harlequins/
h0m3r's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
abistic's review against another edition
4.0
Nie jestem w stanie dużo powiedzieć na temat tej książki, jednak to chciałabym tutaj zawrzeć:
• Nie jestem na razie odpowiednią osobą do oceniania tej książki - to ostatnia w jego dorobku, najbardziej autobiograficzna (chociaż bohater występuje pod troszkę zmienionym imieniem), więc dużo tutaj aluzji do życia Nabokova. Będę mogła w pełni zrozumieć i ocenić w odpowiedni sposób "Patrz na te arlekiny!" dopiero wtedy, gdy przestudiuję lepiej życie Nabokova i jego książki (czym mam w niedalekiej przyszłości się zająć).
• Uwielbiam posłowia Leszka Engelkinga. Uwielbiam jego odbiór książek Nabokova. Naprawdę wiele wprowadza do życia czytelnika, który jest świeżo po przeczytaniu tak poplątanej historii.
• Fajnie odgadywało i odnajdywało mi się różne aluzje do życia Nabokova i do jego książek, ale chcę to zrobić jeszcze raz w odpowiednim czasie i z większą wiedzą.
Kolejny raz i na pewno nie ostatni: mój niekwestionowany Mistrz.
• Nie jestem na razie odpowiednią osobą do oceniania tej książki - to ostatnia w jego dorobku, najbardziej autobiograficzna (chociaż bohater występuje pod troszkę zmienionym imieniem), więc dużo tutaj aluzji do życia Nabokova. Będę mogła w pełni zrozumieć i ocenić w odpowiedni sposób "Patrz na te arlekiny!" dopiero wtedy, gdy przestudiuję lepiej życie Nabokova i jego książki (czym mam w niedalekiej przyszłości się zająć).
• Uwielbiam posłowia Leszka Engelkinga. Uwielbiam jego odbiór książek Nabokova. Naprawdę wiele wprowadza do życia czytelnika, który jest świeżo po przeczytaniu tak poplątanej historii.
• Fajnie odgadywało i odnajdywało mi się różne aluzje do życia Nabokova i do jego książek, ale chcę to zrobić jeszcze raz w odpowiednim czasie i z większą wiedzą.
Kolejny raz i na pewno nie ostatni: mój niekwestionowany Mistrz.
pumastredia's review against another edition
2.0
i did enjoy it at times, but the more it went on, the more boring it became.
the old man thinks he’s hilariously smart, but in reality he is disgusting at times and (indeed) witty at the others, but witty with the dusty workhorse of all the same instruments from his youth.
had to skip the 25% of the novel until the last pages, because it was getting on my nerves to have the same punchline thrown at you over and over again.
the old man thinks he’s hilariously smart, but in reality he is disgusting at times and (indeed) witty at the others, but witty with the dusty workhorse of all the same instruments from his youth.
had to skip the 25% of the novel until the last pages, because it was getting on my nerves to have the same punchline thrown at you over and over again.
zoebeketova's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
hello123hello1234's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0