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1 internautes sur 1 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
5.0étoiles sur 5
Strange and prophetic, Aoû 31 1999
Par Un client
I first read this book as a student in the 1960's and was puzzled but liked it. It seemed, to quote Nabokov, a violin in a void. Suddenly in 1989 I realised it is a prophecy about the Fall of Communism, its symbolism very close to what actually happened: the State and its ideology - once wielding real power and terror- have withered to an absurd shell, its rewards and blandisments have someting of senile infantilism about them, only its power as a death-dealer is apparently undiminished. The victim, Cincinnatus, suddenly realises he has had enough, stands up and comes to his senses and the whole idiotic apparatus of oppression crumbles to dust. It could have been the story of Prague, Budapest, Warsaw or East Berlin in 1989. My favourite Nabakov, it is a beautiful, haunting and unforgettable piece of writing.
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3.0étoiles sur 5
Magical, but ultimately unsatisfying, Oct. 1 2009
After reading Lolita, I wanted to try something else from Nabokov's extensive line of work. Reading the back blurbs of a couple, I decided to try this one, as it sounded very magical realist, which is something I enjoy a lot.
First, and I know this is not a criticism of Nabokov at all but it has to be said, the person at Vintage who wrote the back copy of this book is a dolt. A class-A moron. The back of the book gives away every single aspect of the story, down to the very ending. I know that this book is not a "thriller" where the twists and turns of the plot are integral to the enjoyment of the story, but dammit, there were some things that I'd rather not have known at the get-go. So, Vintage people, if you are reading this: fire that copy writer.
OK, so I enjoyed the book. I thought it was good, but not great. I am sure that there are much better Nabokov books out there. I felt some frustration at times with this book, especially during the first-person writings of Cincinnatis C, which I felt were rambling, esoteric to the point of boring, and incomplete. If what was happening to him was meant to be a greater metaphor for society (or as someone else suggested, the fall of communism) then I didn't get it.
Interesting things happen. Beautiful psychedelic images and happenings are described. But, as it turns out, this is not enough to sustain a book for me, not enough to carry me through 200 pages. I read the whole thing, but was left feeling like it could have been a lot better.
I look forward to more Nabokov, as his grip on the english language (how the hell he learned it later in life and can still write better than most native speakers is a thing of genius) is incredible, his writing lyrical and exciting. I love his metaphors, his subtlety, his humour. I think it can be found better in other books, however.
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2.0étoiles sur 5
Rambling and Incoherent, Avril 7 2003
I've read a lot of Nabokov and finished this one while riding on the Moscow Metro. This is not even close to his best work. It may have been the intention of Nabokov to keep the reader guessing about what was and wasn't real, but in the end it didn't really matter. I don't believe what the copy on the back cover says either. Cinnatus doesn't will his executioners out of existance. His head has been removed and in the end it is his spirit moving to this other existance. Apparently when you write copy for book jackets you are not required to actually read the book you are writing about.
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