fncll recenserade The real Lolita av Sarah Weinman
Disappointing
2 stjärnor
Mixed feelings about this one, mostly disappointment. I agree with the author that it was sad Sally Horner's story was mostly forgotten...but only in the general sense that it's equally sad that so many other stories have been lost. Her failed attempt to tie her story in fundamental way to Nabokov's novel does nothing to help and, in fact, the author's flailing to make her surmises more material actually detract from the Sally's story by making it seem like Sally's story only matters because of this would-be connection.
And the author can't have it both ways: she says she isn't taking away from Nabokov's artistry, but she clearly implies otherwise and even makes what reads to me like a clear allegation about Nabokov's inner feelings that are just the kind of false accusation I think he was trying to head off by being as vague about any sources that …
Mixed feelings about this one, mostly disappointment. I agree with the author that it was sad Sally Horner's story was mostly forgotten...but only in the general sense that it's equally sad that so many other stories have been lost. Her failed attempt to tie her story in fundamental way to Nabokov's novel does nothing to help and, in fact, the author's flailing to make her surmises more material actually detract from the Sally's story by making it seem like Sally's story only matters because of this would-be connection.
And the author can't have it both ways: she says she isn't taking away from Nabokov's artistry, but she clearly implies otherwise and even makes what reads to me like a clear allegation about Nabokov's inner feelings that are just the kind of false accusation I think he was trying to head off by being as vague about any sources that contributed to the story.
Was the story of Lolita influenced in some way by Horner's story? Surely, as Nabokov references the story in a parenthetical. Was it creatively fundamental and did Nabokov bury Horner's story? There's no good evidence here that either allegation is true, despite the author's use of hedging, even duplicitous language, to make it seem otherwise.