Invitation to a Beheading - Vladimir Nabokov (45/50)

Mr Nabokov writes in way easy to free reader from stereotypes, prejudices and boredoom. This time, "Invitation to a Beheading" is the story of Cincinnatus, a prisioner who has been condemened to death penalty because a crime that is not mentioned, only suggested, in the book.

Nabokov's novels tend to focus on good fiction; however, metaphor is used in a fancy and efficient way. Cincinnatus has feature, he is able to be transparent. If it is a symbol or a fact is not clear in the text; however, the main character tends to disengage his body and let the light pass through his body.

Surrounded by ridiculous characters that try to be kind, Cincinnatus keeps his dignity and keeps his temperant attitude. He is introduced to Monsieur Pierre, a extremely courteous man. The prisioner is honest, the partner is friendly. 

Cincinnatus is under the pressure of director and guards will. He has the habit to read; actually, there is a book that particularly interested him: Quercus, which tells the story of a tree a long history. It witness of world changes. 

The story is told in a funny voice. In spite of its merry and simple narrator style, it is unavoidable to feel touched by conversation between Cincinnatus and his mother, Cecilia C. It is supposed to be a comedy or a soft story but cruel Nabokov takes the reader to the heart of an abandoned child whose mother tries to give relief. 

"...'Why do you tell me all this?' asked Cincinnatus.

She was silent.

'What's the point of all this? Don't you know that one of these days, perhaps tomorrow...'

He suddenly noticed the expression in Cecilia C's eyes. -Just for an instant, an instant- but i was as if something real, unquestionable (in this world, where everything was subject to question), had passed through, as if a corner of this horrible life had curled up..."

Cincinnatus reveals in a letter to his wife the relationship they had. It was horrible according the writer. In spite of the straightforward tone of the text, she visits him. Of course, it is suggested she has had sex with the director in order to break the rules. She also does it naturally with one guard. It is told in a delicate ang comic language.

Finally, Monsieur Pierre reveals he is the person who is going to kill Cincinnatus. He has pretended to be a prisioner in order to get Cincinnatus friendship and esteem. The prisioner is near death. He walks in dark places and some beautiful literarian details may be appreciated. For example, when he walks he is able to read "ffice". I consider it a genuine way to express in words the effect of walking fast and barely read an inscription.

When Cincinnates is conceded his final desire, he wishes to have 3 minutes to think. He wonder about what he is living. He becomes big and the executioner small. He walks and leave the place.

I LOVE YOU NABOKOV

   

The Captain's Daughter - Alexander Pushkin (35/50)

The Captain's Daughter was first published in 1836. It is the story of "Petrusha", son of Andrei Petrovich  Grinyov, a noble man recognized by Russian society. The boy is at age to enter the service. He is sent to Fort Belogorsk. Savelich a faithful servant escorts him in spite of Petrusha's unmature temper and the dangers of the road.

Going to the Fort, the boy meets Ivan Zurin. In order to demonstrate he is a real man, he gambles. The men should drink and the one who resists most will have the money. Pyotr Andreyevich loses and must pay a sum. When he gets to the Fort, he meets Ivan Kuzmich, his wife and feels captivated by his daughter: Marya Ivanovna.

Shvabrin serves in the Fort Belogorsk. He is also in love with Marya. He makes jokes about Pyotr's love poetry. Situation evolves into a duel. During duel Pyotr has an advantage over his rival, till Savelich interrputs them. Pyotr is hurt seriosly.

Marya takes care of Pyotr till he recovers. Petrusha decides to marry, he writes a letter to his parents in order to count with their consent. In spite of the good reaction of Marya's parents, Pyotr's family rejects the idea and disapprove Andreyevich's behavior.

Fort Belogorsk is near Orenburg. It is a zone surrounded by "semi barbaric" people. Remember the Empires call barbaric everything unfamiliar for their people. Actually, there is a man called Purgachov which states to be the ruler of the empire. Many followers belive him.

People in the Fort underestimate the power of that man. The defense try to resist the attack. Nonetheless, the place is conquered. Purgachov wants to be recognized as a soverign. When Kuzmich and Ignatich deny he is soverign Peter, the invader kills them.

Savelich flatters the invader. On the other side, Pyotr is straightforward but Purchachov is kind with the boy. Actually, he sets him free. 

Petrusha goes to Orenburg, a place born in the middle of war. But pity invades the heart of Pyotr when he thinks about Marya. She is in the invaded Fort and Shvabrin has joined Purgachov. One letter makes the boy take decision: Marya tells him Shvabrin wants her to marry him but he rejects him constantly. Actually, the traitor has enclosed her in order to control her.

Pyotr tells a high rank in Orenburg about the situation but he does not help him. Petrusha decides to return to the fort in order to rescue his little dove. Purgachov is kind with him. When the young man tells him about the way Shvabrin has behaved, the invader decides to help him. Shvabrin tries to hide his traces. Nonetheless, Purgachov is the ruler and free Marya. When the pretender (Purgachov) realizes Marya is the captain's daughter, he feels betrayed. But Pyotr convinces him to let them go. The pretender agree.

Marya is sent to be safe with Pyotr's family but the military force has decided to judge Pyotr for betrayal: they belive the way Purgachov treated him was because of his duties as a spy. He is condemned. Marya decides to visit the empress. An unknown woman but trustworthy hear her story. She was the empress and decides to forgive Pyotr.

Pushkin does not try to use difficult languange. I love the titles he uses for his text. It is unavoidable to feel the cold Russia and the storms while Pyotr is riding from one side to another. What I liked the most about the test was the tenderness of the main character in the middle of an aged full of harsh masculinity.

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov (26/50)

Nabokov's "Lolita" was written in 1955. The author was a lover of butterflies, he researched about them and contributed to classify species. When sauntering in USA to get them, he confesses in "Speak, Memory" he was able to know landscapes, personalities and typical features of the North American culture.

The book is about Humbert, a frenchman born in Paris whose father was a hotel owner and whose Enlgish mother died early. Annabel was a girl with whom he could enjoy love and sexual desire which changed his life for ever.

Humbert has a theory about nymphets which are girls that he admires. When his uncle died, he specified that the heritage would not be given unless his nephew moved to America and showed some interest about the bussiness. 

Valeria (Humbert's wife) decides to escape from that exhausting marriage. She has an affaire with a taxi driver with a Russian aspect. 

Humbert moves to America. He lives with Haze family: Charlotte and Dolores. The character feels a deep atraction through Lolita, Charolotte's daughter. The Frenchman marries her; however, she realizes when reading hid diary that he is deeply in love with Lolita, the nymphet. 

Charlotte dies in a car accident.

Humbert takes Lolita and explains her that she has two options: living with him or becoming an orphan with a terrible lifestyle. She agrees traveling with him; however, she gets tired when starts to meet new people.  She runs away with Clare Quilty a playwright and pedophile. 

Solitud devours Humbert's heart. Hence, Rita enters the picture. He picked her up on the road between Montreal and New York. She was a constant company till one day when he recieved a letter from... Lolita.

It is about Lolita telling him she is married, she is pregnant and she needs some money. Dick (her husband) has debts. Humbert inquiries about the origin of the letter and realizes the nymphet is living in an industrial community to eight hundred miles to from New York City. He leaves Rita and drives towards his loved "Lo".

Humbert visited Lolita, and had an awkward conversation, she states firmly she will never return with him. He leaves Dolores' house disappointed.

Although it was a controversial novel, it is clean, sweet and describes Nabokov's version of USA.