Vladimir Nabokov - Pnin

[pontalba]

Timofey Pnin. At first glance, Professor Pnin is the typical absent-minded professor, superficially at any rate. Hello. A clue, the author Vladimir Nabokov is anything but typical in any way, shape, form or manner.
Our Timofey begins by being on the wrong train, blissfully unaware and actually feeling quite satisfied with himself. He is to deliver a lecture to the Cremora Women's Club. Will he arrive in time, with the correct Lecture?
It is a circuitous route that Timofey Pnin travels, from a middle-class pre-revolutionary Russia, son of a doctor-- to Professor of Russian at an American University. A route that included lost love, traitorous love, and betrayal--both personal and professional.
This is a book that was originally written as a serial for The New Yorker magazine, during the firestorm and uncertainity of "Lolita" ever being published at all. It is as different to "Lolita", as night is to day. Only the artistry of Nabokov's prose remains constant.
I cannot recommend this slim novel highly enough. Timofey Pnin is a wonderful character, endearing and heart rending. Somewhat like Nabokov himself.

[Paul]

Pontalba.
I think that catches it perfectly!
I think he is the most endearing of all VN's characters. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body, and life is not willing to share much good luck with him either. But, undeterred, he tackles life head-on with infallible good cheer, suffers along the way, and gains our hearts in the process.

[pontalba]

Endearing. Yes! I just wanted to gather him up and smother him with hugs and protect him. He brings out the maternal instinct in full force.:)

[shelbel]

I have been wanting to read Vladimir Nabokov for quite some time, he has been such an influence on so many of our contemporary writer's. Which of his works would you recommend as an introduction to Nabokov?

[Sedgewick]

Which of his works would you recommend as an introduction to Nabokov? The easiest is perhaps his first, Mary, but that\'s so basic you are probably better just to jump straight into \'Lolita\'. It is, after all, his masterpiece, and you\'ll at least appreciate him as a writer and want to read everything else he\'s written. Then read \'The Gift\'.

[pontalba]

I have been wanting to read Vladimir Nabokov for quite some time, he has been such an influence on so many of our contemporary writer's. Which of his works would you recommend as an introduction to Nabokov?

I happened to read Lolita first, I was fortunate enough to read it with an excellent discussion group that really got to the meat of the matter, but if you purchase the Annotated version, that'll help tremendously.
After reading Lolita and Pnin and a few others including Glory and The Real Life of Sebastian Knight I decided to start at the beginning of his work [Mary] to better track his progression as a writer.

It's a good way as far as I am concerned. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight is a good detective story as well, so if you enjoy that genre, it's another reason to read that first.

So really in the end it is whatever synopsis or review that happens to appeal to you the most. Pnin is an excellent introduction IMO, but so would be Glory or Sebastian Knight.
Please post as to which one you have decided on, I'd love to know.

Oh, and if you are interested in Nabokov himself, Speak, Memory was absolutely the most wonderful autobiography I have ever read. There is a thread here on it too.

[ii]

I've never really gotten a hold of Nabokov... I might give this one a try now, though...

Shelbel, try starting with Chekhov's short stories and plays, before taking on a brick-like Dostojevsky or Tolstoy. Also, Turgenev and his Fathers and Sons is brillinat, and not too intimidating to start with.

[shelbel]

I've never really gotten a hold of Nabokov... I might give this one a try now, though...

Shelbel, try starting with Chekhov's short stories and plays, before taking on a brick-like Dostojevsky or Tolstoy. Also, Turgenev and his Fathers and Sons is brillinat, and not too intimidating to start with.

Thankyou for the suggestion of Chekhov's short stories and plays, I will certainly add him to the reading list. I am currently half way through Anna Karenina and loving it. I am finding it a rather slow read as there is so much detail to absorb, his exploration of male/female gender roles in Russian society is absolutely fascinating. A friend of mine has suggested that I read Madame Bovary next as a complimentary read to Anna Karenina.

[Tiresias]

I am intensely fond of Nabokov. So far I've read:

Glory
Laughter in the Dark
Lolita
Look at the Harlequins!
Mary
Pale Fire
Speak, Memory
Strong Opinions
The Gift
The Real Life of Sebastian Knight
The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov
Transparent Things

But not Pnin! I think it'll be the next of his I read. I've heard that it is one of his most accessible. Would you agree with that?

[pontalba]

Pnin is definitely accessible. I consider Timofey to be one of the most noble of fiction's characters. Then for the dark side of the coin, may I suggest you read The Enchanter. It's an interesting precursor to Lolita.

I've searched and can't find a review for The Enchanter I thought I posted here in the review section, perhaps I've missed it, so will post it here.

The Enchanter by Vladimir Nabokov

So many similarities, so many differences. "The Enchanter" vs. "Lolita".

To list similarities, a middle aged (I refuse to call him old!) man falls in...."love" (obsession more like it) with a 12 year old girl. Said man marries the mother to obtain access to the child. Mother conveniently dies and leaves the child in care of her newly aquired husband. There are no relatives to step in and defend the child. The man (who btw is never given a name) embarks on a journey with the child to a place where they can erotically play and be together without the tethers of civilization or enquiring eyes. I deliberately use the term "play" because that is how he envisions their future together.

I didn't say he was brilliant. Just methodical. The girl's personality (who is also unnamed), is the deal breaker in my opinion.

The bones of the story are the same. The fleshing out is very different however. The Enchanter is a roller coaster ride to an explosive end.

"Lolita" is more of a sensual journey taken slowly and deliberately with much malice aforethought.

Some have panned "The Enchanter" and given it no worth, but I think it is well worth the reading, and recommend it for your perusal.

After all, it is Nabokov.

[Tiresias]

Have you read the short story "Natasha" that was recently (June 9, 2008!) published in the New Yorker?

Apparently it had been sitting in a vault since Nabokov died.

[Kylie]

Nice review, Pontalba! I'll have to track this one down.

I'm edging ever closer to reading Pnin.

[pontalba]

Have you read the short story "Natasha" that was recently (June 9, 2008!) published in the New Yorker?

Apparently it had been sitting in a vault since Nabokov died.
I did, and thanks for reminding me to print it out! :mrgreen:

It is beautiful isn't it?

[pontalba]

Nice review, Pontalba! I'll have to track this one down.

I'm edging ever closer to reading Pnin.
Thank you. It's well worth the tracking. The man is never named in the book, however on another forum, we decided that Arthur was a good name for him. :mrgreen:

[Paul]

Pnin is definitely one of Nabokov's most accessible and enjoyable books. In addition it reflects Nabokov at his impish best in the puzzles that he embedded for discovery on second reading: sorting out who the different narrators might be, and figuring out "Toms" confusion about Pnin's confusion after the party. All in good clean fun. :)

[pontalba]

Oh Yes!! Figuring out the narrator was the knottiest puzzle, but the clues are definitely there. I think I need another reread. . . . . :D

[Tiresias]

^ True.

You can say of one of Nabokov's novels what has been said of Ulysses: "You can finish it. You cannot finish with it."

[pontalba]

^ True.

You can say of one of Nabokov's novels what has been said of Ulysses: "You can finish it. You cannot finish with it."
Yes! Have you read Look at the Harlequins! ? I've only read about half of VN's books, and I laughed myself silly at the references to his other books and his own life.


** Just saw your post in Harlequins. :)