- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Mariner Books; Reprint edition (May 13 1994)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0156000474
- ISBN-13: 978-0156000475
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13.5 x 3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 408 g
- Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,496,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
An exiled Georgian princess explores her passion for writing and pre-adolescent boys in this novel by the author of The Choiring of Trees .
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
If, as a main character in this playfully intelligent novel about writing novels professes, "The art of fiction lies in wandering beyond the conventional into the original and outrageous." Harington's novel succeeds admirably. This despite the fact the book could aptly be subtitled "variation on a theme (and the life) of Nabokov." Both allusionary and illusionary, it centers around a Georgian (as in the former USSR) princess/mycologist/dissident who arrives in the United States with a rudimentary knowledge of English, a passion for pubescent boys, and a deep-seated fear that her Russian psychiatrist tormentor, Bolshakov, is still on her trail. With the help of a ghost and an alcoholic art historian cum novelist, she discovers her own talent for fiction and makes enough money to take over a suite of rooms in an old mountain resort hotel (a la Nabokov). Eventually, however, both Bolshakov and her taste for 12-year-olds catch up with her and her world comes crashing down. Or does it? For, after all, "Ekaterina you were, and you were not at all." There will be some outraged objectors to the book's sexual scenes, but most will find this novel enjoyable and worthwhile reading. Like its precursor, Lolita , it belongs in most academic and public libraries.
- David W. Henderson, Eckerd Coll. Lib., St. Petersburg, Fla.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
- David W. Henderson, Eckerd Coll. Lib., St. Petersburg, Fla.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Use some Purex,
By A Customer
This review is from: Ekaterina (Paperback)
Those fans of Harington's Arkansas hokum should be warned that this is a Lolita pastiche and, as such, contains a it's fair share of sexual imagery. Actually, I stopped reading it as there were rather too many spurting fluids - and I don't consider my self in the least prudish; it was just tooo squishy - not at all erotic, just biological and rather unpleasantly grubby - like a display of someone's dirty underwear.Try Harington's other "Staymore" novels - they are wonderful.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fabulous book,
By "joneslawrence" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Ekaterina (Paperback)
I only came across this book after reading Nabakov's 'Lolita'. And I have to say that if any of you are contemplating reading 'Ekaterina' you'd be rewarded if you read 'Lolita' first (preferably the 'Annotated Lolita' edited by Alfred Appel Jr). One similarity between 'Lolita' and 'Ekaterina' is obvious - the disturbing theme of pedophilia. But there are so many other parallels. One in particular is the examination of authorial intrusion. In 'Lolita', Nabakov allows himself surreptitious peeps and circumlocutions as if from behind the stage of a puppet theater. And to the intelligent reader he lets it be known that he is the puppet master and that his novel is not a slice of "reality" but a work of fiction. Similarly (but, it must be said, less subtly) Harington's manipulation of his characters implies an authorial presence at all times. Harington examines the roll of the artist as God right from the start by using the second person narrative technique. This is a technique that I have rarely come across but Harington uses it expertly. For those of you who like reading complex novels filled with self-reflexion, intertextuality, and jokes aimed at publishers then this is a novel for you! Highly recommended.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointment,
By A Customer
This review is from: Ekaterina (Paperback)
I was extremely disappointed in this obvious imitation of "Lolita." There appeared to be no spirit, no life force or reasoning behind Ekaterina's prepubescent preoccupation (apart from the mention from her experience at age 19); at least Humbert (in "Lolita") had an impetus for his fascination that wasn't sexually related. The lack of love, concern, or caring in "Ekaterina" is ludicrous, and makes for an upsurd piece of "literature." And the switiching between the "surreal" and the "real" was enough to give a person a headache. It was more bizarre than a Dali painting. I think Nabokov would roll over in his grave if he knew about this. Don't waste your time with this rank imitation by Harrington - stick to the original master of satire, humour, and word play: Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov.
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