Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

I picked this book as a pre-cursor to Reading Lolita in Tehran. I cannot pretend that Nabokov is not a gifted writer, especially in his use of imagery and his command of the English language, but in terms of content this was by far one of the most disturbing stories I have ever read. Most of you are probably familiar with it: a man in his late 30s develops an insatiable lust for a 12-year-old girl and establishes a “relationship” with her after her mother’s death. There is also a great deal of exposition explaining his developing insanity and pedophilia. The book is positively haunting and offers a glimpse into the dark, depraved capacity of the human mind that most of us would choose to avoid. Favorite Quote: “Every limit presupposes something beyond it.”