Hi! First time viewer here, and this is my first video that I'm watching from your channel. I'm not from an English speaking country so I haven't studied these in school but I totally agree with you. I have heard soooo much about them but I'm reluctant to read them. I have seen movie versions of Clockwork orange and Lolita and did not like them at all 😂. Although I haven't read Lolita I do agree there is a better way to tell that story and personally think Fang Si-Chi's First Love Paradise by Lin Yi Han did a much better job of handling thay subject. I don't think it's well known in the US/UK and so on because I've never seen anyone on booktube that are from US/UK and so on talk about it. I recommend it if you are looking for a different(in my opinion, better) way of telling a story like Lolita. It is semi-autobiographical, and I cried a lot reading it, but I think it is worth it. Highly recommend!! Also I'm really glad I found your channel!!❤
Welcome and thank you so much for watching! Thank you so much for your insight on Lolita and I'm definitely intrigued by Fang Si-Chi's First Love Paradise. I just looked it up and it looks amazing!
Hey Shannon! I haven’t read any of these either, pretty much for the exact same reasons that you described! I remember seeing the Clockwork Orange movie and thinking it was really artistic and creative, but disturbing so I can’t imagine reading the book because like you said, it’s worse than what the movie showed. The other two books, Lolita and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, I would definitely consider reading at some point. I may or wait a little while on Lolita, because my younger daughter is 12 and I feel like I wouldn’t be able to stomach reading it right now. As for American Psycho, I don’t think I would ever read that just based on the level of disturbing violence that I’ve heard people say is in that one, but apparently, the themes about capitalism, narcissism and identity are really interesting. It’s not enough to get me to read it though 😂 Good luck if you decide to try any of these out!
Oh gosh, definitely don't read Lolita until your girls are grown up, moved out, and are grandmothers! I don't have any kids so it's going to be hard enough reading that book with my own experiences so I can't imagine reading it while raising daughters. This past weekend I had a conversation with a female friend who has read it and she told me that the portrayal of the guy is quite brilliant and that it's obvious that he is a complete scumbag so I'm going to take that into consideration. I wonder if Nabokov ever thought that his book would make women physically ill just thinking about it after all these years.
I studied A Clockwork Orange in my American Cinema class, especially the use of classical music in violent scenes. I loved the movie and think it was brilliant. I tried reading the book but it was a bit hard ( you almost need a dictionary to read it haha!) so I lost interest. It is violent but it is “clever” violence if that makes sense. I also really want to read American Psycho! I loved the movie and have read many Bret Easton Ellis’ books and he’s one of my favorite author. I’m a bit scared to be hinest but…I will try it!
Thank you so much for your insight! I will definitely take that into consideration when I get into Clockwork. As for American Psycho, yeah, that's gonna be a tough one for both of us!
I read Lolita when I was 16..and you are absolutely right..Lolita has some of the most beautiful and tragic writing I have ever come across. Humbert Humbert is a very sick man and I am not at all justifying his actions, but at the beginning of the book you are given a brief account of what happened to him when was around 12-13 that made him obsessed with young girls. Maybe as a psychology student I cannot help but sympathize with him in that aspect ( he probably should’ve gotten some counseling instead of doing the horrible things he did) I have watched both of the movies and I will say that the movies make it seem like it’s this big love story and that Dolores was in love with Humbert. In the book it is blatantly obvious that she wants nothing to do with him, but literally has nowhere to go. And throughout the book, Humbert is constantly meditating on what he is doing and eventually starts to feel sorry for her. One of the most heartbreaking scenes in Lolita is when Humbert finally realizes that Dolores is only staying with him because she literally has no other option. I understand why you are so reluctant to pick it up, but I do recommend reading some of Nabokov’s other books.
Thank you so much for your insight! I am definitely going to take this into consideration especially the movies vs. the book. I haven't seen either movie but I do know that Hollywood has a tendency to take stories that are clearly not love stories and making them into some epic romance (ahem, Wuthering Heights). Thank you so much for this information!
Shannon, I have never been particularly interested in reading any of these books - and certainly none of them were assigned to me in High School. I had no idea that Clockwork Orange or Lolita is being assigned in school!! I guess of the lot I would be most interested in reading Lolita, but realistically I doubt that I ever will. I certainly do not think that material is suitable for High School. I know what you mean about wanting to investigate novels because of their legendary and controversial status - but after reading critically acclaimed crap like Catcher in the Rye I try not to let critical reputation sway me HAHA. Thank you for the video.
Okay, so you're NOT a fan of Catcher in the Rye? I'm glad I'm not the only one! I keep telling myself that something is wrong with me for not liking it while others consider it to be life changing and formative reading. I don't know how often Clockwork and Lolita are assigned in high schools these days but they definitely were in past years. That being said, my copies of those books were located on tables in a bookstore with other common school assigned books. 😬
I have the same problem with American Psycho. I like Bret but I don't want to read about a psycho but it's suppose to be really good. The other two, I don't have a desire to read. And Lolita I have read and I love his writing. Child abuse is almost impossible for me to read. A book I liked is Educated, but I had to stop reading it because of the abuse. It drove me nuts. I was annoyed. But somehow Lolita didn't make me feel that way. I read it a long time ago. But I like Educated and Demon Copperhead and another one with abuse I absolutely loved was Betty. I heard a story about Nabokov: When he was a boy during Stalin times he was with his mom looking at someone's writing. He said to his mom, the colors are all wrong. His mom was confused and asked him what he meant. He said he sees colors in writing. His mom told him not to tell anyone because she was scared of Stalin. I read Nabokov around the same time I read W. Somerset Maugham's Of Human Bondage (great book), and I have them connected in my brain as being the same kind of writer (probably not). They both write like they are sitting there talking to you. Check out Maugham first maybe. Another good book by him is The Razor's Edge... Also Of Human Bondage is great.
Thank so you much for your insight on Lolita and I'm definitely going to take it into consideration. I never heard that story about Nabokov, that is so interesting (and I can't blame his mum for being frightened)! I have Educated on my list of books to read but I didn't realize there was abuse in it (yikes!). I have read Of Human Bondage but it's been so long that it's due for a re-read because I've forgotten it all but I haven't heard of Razor's Edge. I have The Painted Veil on my list but don't know when I'll get to that. 😀
Hi! First time viewer here, and this is my first video that I'm watching from your channel. I'm not from an English speaking country so I haven't studied these in school but I totally agree with you. I have heard soooo much about them but I'm reluctant to read them. I have seen movie versions of Clockwork orange and Lolita and did not like them at all 😂. Although I haven't read Lolita I do agree there is a better way to tell that story and personally think Fang Si-Chi's First Love Paradise by Lin Yi Han did a much better job of handling thay subject. I don't think it's well known in the US/UK and so on because I've never seen anyone on booktube that are from US/UK and so on talk about it. I recommend it if you are looking for a different(in my opinion, better) way of telling a story like Lolita. It is semi-autobiographical, and I cried a lot reading it, but I think it is worth it. Highly recommend!! Also I'm really glad I found your channel!!❤
Welcome and thank you so much for watching! Thank you so much for your insight on Lolita and I'm definitely intrigued by Fang Si-Chi's First Love Paradise. I just looked it up and it looks amazing!
Hey Shannon! I haven’t read any of these either, pretty much for the exact same reasons that you described! I remember seeing the Clockwork Orange movie and thinking it was really artistic and creative, but disturbing so I can’t imagine reading the book because like you said, it’s worse than what the movie showed. The other two books, Lolita and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, I would definitely consider reading at some point. I may or wait a little while on Lolita, because my younger daughter is 12 and I feel like I wouldn’t be able to stomach reading it right now. As for American Psycho, I don’t think I would ever read that just based on the level of disturbing violence that I’ve heard people say is in that one, but apparently, the themes about capitalism, narcissism and identity are really interesting. It’s not enough to get me to read it though 😂 Good luck if you decide to try any of these out!
Oh gosh, definitely don't read Lolita until your girls are grown up, moved out, and are grandmothers! I don't have any kids so it's going to be hard enough reading that book with my own experiences so I can't imagine reading it while raising daughters. This past weekend I had a conversation with a female friend who has read it and she told me that the portrayal of the guy is quite brilliant and that it's obvious that he is a complete scumbag so I'm going to take that into consideration. I wonder if Nabokov ever thought that his book would make women physically ill just thinking about it after all these years.
@ Hmm, good question, but I doubt he had any idea of what the impact would be all these years later!
I studied A Clockwork Orange in my American Cinema class, especially the use of classical music in violent scenes. I loved the movie and think it was brilliant. I tried reading the book but it was a bit hard ( you almost need a dictionary to read it haha!) so I lost interest. It is violent but it is “clever” violence if that makes sense. I also really want to read American Psycho! I loved the movie and have read many Bret Easton Ellis’ books and he’s one of my favorite author. I’m a bit scared to be hinest but…I will try it!
Thank you so much for your insight! I will definitely take that into consideration when I get into Clockwork. As for American Psycho, yeah, that's gonna be a tough one for both of us!
I read Lolita when I was 16..and you are absolutely right..Lolita has some of the most beautiful and tragic writing I have ever come across. Humbert Humbert is a very sick man and I am not at all justifying his actions, but at the beginning of the book you are given a brief account of what happened to him when was around 12-13 that made him obsessed with young girls. Maybe as a psychology student I cannot help but sympathize with him in that aspect ( he probably should’ve gotten some counseling instead of doing the horrible things he did) I have watched both of the movies and I will say that the movies make it seem like it’s this big love story and that Dolores was in love with Humbert. In the book it is blatantly obvious that she wants nothing to do with him, but literally has nowhere to go. And throughout the book, Humbert is constantly meditating on what he is doing and eventually starts to feel sorry for her. One of the most heartbreaking scenes in Lolita is when Humbert finally realizes that Dolores is only staying with him because she literally has no other option. I understand why you are so reluctant to pick it up, but I do recommend reading some of Nabokov’s other books.
Thank you so much for your insight! I am definitely going to take this into consideration especially the movies vs. the book. I haven't seen either movie but I do know that Hollywood has a tendency to take stories that are clearly not love stories and making them into some epic romance (ahem, Wuthering Heights). Thank you so much for this information!
Shannon, I have never been particularly interested in reading any of these books - and certainly none of them were assigned to me in High School. I had no idea that Clockwork Orange or Lolita is being assigned in school!! I guess of the lot I would be most interested in reading Lolita, but realistically I doubt that I ever will. I certainly do not think that material is suitable for High School. I know what you mean about wanting to investigate novels because of their legendary and controversial status - but after reading critically acclaimed crap like Catcher in the Rye I try not to let critical reputation sway me HAHA. Thank you for the video.
Okay, so you're NOT a fan of Catcher in the Rye? I'm glad I'm not the only one! I keep telling myself that something is wrong with me for not liking it while others consider it to be life changing and formative reading.
I don't know how often Clockwork and Lolita are assigned in high schools these days but they definitely were in past years. That being said, my copies of those books were located on tables in a bookstore with other common school assigned books. 😬
I have the same problem with American Psycho. I like Bret but I don't want to read about a psycho but it's suppose to be really good. The other two, I don't have a desire to read. And Lolita I have read and I love his writing. Child abuse is almost impossible for me to read. A book I liked is Educated, but I had to stop reading it because of the abuse. It drove me nuts. I was annoyed. But somehow Lolita didn't make me feel that way. I read it a long time ago. But I like Educated and Demon Copperhead and another one with abuse I absolutely loved was Betty.
I heard a story about Nabokov: When he was a boy during Stalin times he was with his mom looking at someone's writing. He said to his mom, the colors are all wrong. His mom was confused and asked him what he meant. He said he sees colors in writing. His mom told him not to tell anyone because she was scared of Stalin.
I read Nabokov around the same time I read W. Somerset Maugham's Of Human Bondage (great book), and I have them connected in my brain as being the same kind of writer (probably not). They both write like they are sitting there talking to you. Check out Maugham first maybe. Another good book by him is The Razor's Edge... Also Of Human Bondage is great.
Thank so you much for your insight on Lolita and I'm definitely going to take it into consideration. I never heard that story about Nabokov, that is so interesting (and I can't blame his mum for being frightened)! I have Educated on my list of books to read but I didn't realize there was abuse in it (yikes!). I have read Of Human Bondage but it's been so long that it's due for a re-read because I've forgotten it all but I haven't heard of Razor's Edge. I have The Painted Veil on my list but don't know when I'll get to that. 😀