The Meanest Things Vladimir Nabokov Said About Other Writers(lithub.com)
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The Meanest Things Vladimir Nabokov Said About Other Writers
https://lithub.com/the-meanest-things-vladimir-nabokov-said-about-other-writers/
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"One can be a lover of Space and its possibilities: take, for example, speed, the smoothness and sword-swish of speed; the aquiline glory of ruling velocity; the joy cry of the curve; and one can be an amateur of Time, an epicure of duration. I delight sensually in Time, in its stuff and spread, in the fall of its folds, in the very impalpability of its grayish gauze, in the coolness of its continuum. I wish to do something about it; to indulge in a simulacrum of possession. I am aware that all who have tried to reach the charmed castle have got lost in obscurity or have bogged down in Space."
For a much better list, see: http://wmjas.wikidot.com/nabokov-s-recommendations
It’s more comprehensive in scope but much less in depth.
Thank you for your reference, but I would not prefer your source supersede the OP.
I’m glad to have both.
I’m glad to have both.
So Nabokov read the complete works of Shakespeare, Tolstoy, and Flaubert between the ages of 14 and 15. Probably each in their respective original languages. Humbling. Or he's misremembering his childhood :)
In general when one writer says snotty things about another, it can simply mean, "I don't see anything here that I can use." As for this list, it is worth mentioning that Nabokov wrote a short book on Gogol, and gives him about 50 pages in the Lectures on Russian Literature.
You cannot say anything bad about Stendhal, you just can not. I can understand his opinion on Balzac, because lots of people hate him for how right he was (I personally love him), but Stendhal’s style was just out of this world.
His criticisms of Dostoyesky do not sit well. I've read several of Nabokov's books -- Lolita, Pale Fire, Speak Memory, The Defense, and Invitation to a Beheading. The last 2 are highly recommended and in general the works originally written in Russian are underrated.
Nabokov's character development and psychological penetration don't hold a candle to Dostoyevsky's though.
Nabokov's character development and psychological penetration don't hold a candle to Dostoyevsky's though.
I don't have much opinion on literature but I am deeply opinionated on classical music. I wonder if there's a similar list by a composer or music critic about other composers of his/her time. That'd be an interesting read!
Sir Thomas Beecham was by far the most savage critic that we have documentation for.
Musicians have been giving each other shit for a couple of thousand years, but most of it is people who are still famous talking shit about people who no one now has heard of.
Musicians have been giving each other shit for a couple of thousand years, but most of it is people who are still famous talking shit about people who no one now has heard of.
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Typefying Hemingway with "bells, balls and bulls" is pretty funny.
When you are this great, I think you can cast some stones. I find his prose achingly beautiful.
Most dissapointing famous books IMHO:
3. Lolita
2. Catcher in the rye
1. Anne Frank diary
3. Lolita
2. Catcher in the rye
1. Anne Frank diary
Other than some English or Russian Lit classes, does anyone read his works these days? I imagine they are like those of other Russian writers, dense prose, too many characters, one thousand page door stops.
dense prose, too many characters, one thousand page door stops.
You know how I know you haven't read Nabokov?
You know how I know you haven't read Nabokov?
I'd look a few words further back, to where the comment explicitly says as much:
I imagine [Nabokov's works] are like those of other Russian writers
I imagine [Nabokov's works] are like those of other Russian writers
Lotlita is only #4 on the Modern Library 100 Best Novels list.[0] Maybe he would've done better if he'd stuck to writing novels in his first language (Russian)?
[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Library_100_Best_Novels
[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Library_100_Best_Novels
Reading the Editors' picks there vs. the Readers' picks is amusing.
I could probably do without Ulysses or The Great Gatsby from the Editors list, but 4x Ayn Rand, 3x L. Ron Hubbard? 1984 is probably the only truly great book on the Readers' list, although Tolkien and To Kill a Mockingbird belong on a top-100 list.
I could probably do without Ulysses or The Great Gatsby from the Editors list, but 4x Ayn Rand, 3x L. Ron Hubbard? 1984 is probably the only truly great book on the Readers' list, although Tolkien and To Kill a Mockingbird belong on a top-100 list.
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Some do still read his books. I have (re)read all his books in the last year or two purely for pleasure. He is actually a minimalist writer - seldom more than 1-4 key characters, succinct prose, linear stories without departures to discuss wars of old... You may like his writing.
Pale Fire and Lolita only have a handful of characters. If you have time this summer, I recommend reading Lolita. It's more than just a novel about a perverted obsession.
Of if you just want to dip your toe in the waters, he's written some marvelous short stories. The Visit to the Museum, The Assistant Producer, The Admiralty Spire, and Lik are four favorites of mine.
Same with (Zaschita Luzhina) Luzhin's Defense / The Defense
I also recommend "The Eye" and "Laughter in the Dark". My favourite writer along with Kundera and Lem (does it give me away as a Central European?).