Don’t hate me, women, but I finished the book. I’m not like Jenna, who is busy packing or Eliana, who reads more than one book at a time. I had to finish this before I started another. I’m sorry I’m sorry!
I have to say, though, THANK YOU! If it hadn’t been for our “book club” I don’t think I would have taken on Speak, Memory. And I’m so glad I did. I agree with Jenna’s recent post about his memories and how they are “vivid, coherent, and meaningful.” So true! I just wrote a short goodreads review of Speak, Memory, and I used the word “vivid,” too (and that was before I read this blog).
I love his family pride, too! I’m glad the book (my copy, at least) contains so many photos because I feel genuinely connected to these people. After reading the chapter about little Nabokov and his father, I especially love the picture of the two of them together, with Vladimir in a little sailor suit. I think his father is *sexy* I mean, look how he loves his son–and he also got assassinated for political reasons . . . now, THAT is a man!
What I will take away from Speak, Memory and what I will think of often are: his winter scenes, his pride in and love for his family, and his descriptions of Polenka, their head coachman’s daughter. It is too bad that Nabokov is so well-known for Lolita (which is very good, too!). Most people only know what Lolita is “about” and are probably afraid to read it, much less anything else by Nabokov.
When are we going to have a face-to-face chat about this book? Chili’s anyone?
October 17, 2009 at 9:12 pm |
Hey All! I did look up all of those words. Even wrote them in the book. So if you’re not interested in looking them up for yourselves, maybe I could lend you my book to use while you’re finishing the book!
I enjoy the comments from you, even though I think I only know 2 of you. Hope you can do Chili’s soon, I’ll think about it. At least I’m going to the city Mon to do some birthday, maybe Christmas shopping with my two friends here (farming boondocks of MO).
Are we planning to do another book? If so, would you allow me to intrude again? Saundra
October 17, 2009 at 9:13 pm |
I thought I did a comment. See Response to “And scene.” wherever I managed to put it. You can see that I’m not a computer type, right??? Saundra
October 18, 2009 at 1:14 am |
I loved the political assassination too Kate, it fit perfectly. That sounds callous but that isn’t how I mean it.
I have not finished the book, what with there being a schedule and I am only supposed to be 2/3 of the way through. I never knew I was such a rule follower.
I will not be reading any books about butterfly collection in the near future.
October 18, 2009 at 10:51 pm |
And I just finished chapter 5. I will finish this week with you, Eliana!!