Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (1955)

I started reading my way through the All Time top 100 novels with this book. It is also my first book for the Orbis Terrarum reading challenge. It is also one of the long time to-read book on my list and I am glad I got around reading it.

Narrated by Humbert Humbert – an European literary scholar obsessed with nymphets (pre-teen girls). His obsession with the landlady’s daughter, Lolita leads to his marriage with Charlotte (his landlady). Charlotte on discovering Humbert’s perversions is appalled and threatens exposure. She is killed unexpectedly in an accident and Humbert as the step-dad becomes Lolita’s guardian.

They start the run, traveling through different states and staying in motels. Humbert obsessed with Lolita but finds they have no common interests but his obsession with Lolita never reduces. After a year of being on the run, they settle down in a small town in New England where Lolita goes to school makes acquaintance with Clare Quilty – a playwright.

After spending a year, Humbert and Lolita start their travels. Along their way, Lolita falls ill and one day she disappears from the hospital when an “uncle” checks her out. After years, Humbert receives a letter from Lolita asking for monetary help. Humbert meets Lolita, 17 and pregnant and apologizes to her and asks her to return to him. Lolita refuses. Humbert learns that Clare Quilty was the person who helped Lolita escape. He kills him, ends up in jail for driving on the wrong side of the road, and dies in prison.

The narrative style of the book breaks all rules followed by books of that period. It is humorous and witty. I admit it took me a while to get into the book. But once I was in, I was in love. My favorite part is the travels of Humbert and Lolita through North America. The scenery is so vivid that I could see it in front of me. I loved it and would read it all over again given a chance.