Reviews

Being Lolita: A Memoir by Alisson Wood

hguanti's review

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

bekkrainbow's review

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

3.75

amykinla's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

Perennially intrigued by stories about teacher-student romances, and Wood offers clear-eyed perspective on the relationship she lived through. Wasn't as into the "Lolita" analysis, but still enjoyed the memoir overall.

genannj's review against another edition

4.0

Rating a memoir is always hard because it’s someone’s story. The story deals with difficult subject matter but was well-written. I would have given the book five stars, but decided on four because I thought at the end it got a little too heavy on the comparisons to the Lolita book. So much so that I became a little bored. I would still recommend this memoir to others.

paulineleonor's review

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

3.0

rampaigetheory's review

5.0

Good reflection, good introspection. I felt Allison Wood took us on a journey and didn't ever leave us alone in those spaces. Good memoir

caseyaonso's review against another edition

4.0

this was as expected super upsetting but a well done memoir. i think if anything i would have loved to have seen part 3 expanded on more. the moment where she goes back to look at the picture of herself from her school's play + how now as a professor she recognizes her past self in other struggling young women in her own lectures were really emotionally sharp moments of reflection and i found myself wanting more of it, almost felt as if she was cut short in that aspect.

bellasgonemissing's review against another edition

3.0

good but did seem to skip a lot over moments/feelings that she would mention later on - wish they'd just been fleshed out in the moment to also help with what felt like a very 'and this happened and this happened and then this happened' sort of structure

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness

Moderate: Death and Alcohol

Minor: Vomit

leakleino's review against another edition

4.0

I really loved this book and I think it’s very important. To me it’s a very good and mature reflection of how many (teenage) girls went through the process of understanding what being Lolita really means. It’s thought provoking and feminist. I would really recommend it!
Only 4 stars because I was left with some unanswered questions

ohbabyitsalli's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0