Despair
1934 • 272 pages

Ratings6

Average rating4.2

15

Read this in an attempt to understand everybody's fascination with Nabokov, particularly the fact that so many folks dig Lolita as much as they do; I have tried several times to read Lolita, and just don't find it as entrancing as most folks.

I loved Despair, however. Relatively sparse writing, with the feeling of watching an accident happen in slow motion, this is a darkly existentialist book. It reminded me of Camus or Sartre, but with even more bleak humor. Will it be my gateway into enjoying Nabokov's most famous work? We'll see. I think I'll read Pale Fire next...

February 1, 2014Report this review