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_cecilie_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm left in a state of utter bewilderment. Who is what and why? I have no idea, just a lot of clues all of which might be right and wrong at the same time.
Is Kinbote who he says he is, a Zemblan homosexual ex-king named Charles Xavier (all X-men fans are laughing in glee right now) or is he Botkin, a mad Russian literature professor (like Nabokov says himself)? Is he maybe Shade himself who's pretending to be someone else having invented his own death, who is now making fun of his own poem or alternatively editors reviewing and commenting his work who are getting everything hilariously wrong? Is he a fictionalized distorted Nabokov like the possible self-reference on the last page suggests?
Is Shade really dead, killed by mistake by an unrelated mad man who wanted to shoot the judge who admitted him into the mental hospital or was he killed by Kinbote or was he never dead at all?
Is Kinbote who he says he is, a Zemblan homosexual ex-king named Charles Xavier (all X-men fans are laughing in glee right now) or is he Botkin, a mad Russian literature professor (like Nabokov says himself)? Is he maybe Shade himself who's pretending to be someone else having invented his own death, who is now making fun of his own poem or alternatively editors reviewing and commenting his work who are getting everything hilariously wrong? Is he a fictionalized distorted Nabokov like the possible self-reference on the last page suggests?
Is Shade really dead, killed by mistake by an unrelated mad man who wanted to shoot the judge who admitted him into the mental hospital or was he killed by Kinbote or was he never dead at all?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Toxic friendship, Stalking, and Death
Moderate: Mental illness, Gun violence, Suicide, and War
tiernanhunter's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Grief, Murder, Stalking, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Confinement, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
bugcollector's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
♬♩ The blinds wide open so he can see
u in the dark when you sleeping ♫♪
It's funny that nabokov despised Dostoyevsky when they are both overly chatty and indulge in racist and misogynistic comments.
It's likely that he tried to mock this style here, but when the mockery is as annoying as the original then maybe it's just as bad?
Otherwise, it's an entertaining novel. Kinbote's own index about himself was enlightening, he's a true humble king and a loving friend.
I only understood the suicide- Gradus killing Shade on purpose bit at the end after farther reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Racism, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Stalking, Suicide, Alcohol, Grief, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Mental illness
woweewhoa's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Stalking, Gun violence, and Suicide
Minor: Cannibalism and Incest
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