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Comment by sizzzzlerz | Hacker News Reader

Other than some English or Russian Lit classes, does anyone read his works these days? I imagine they are like those of other Russian writers, dense prose, too many characters, one thousand page door stops.

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dense prose, too many characters, one thousand page door stops.

You know how I know you haven't read Nabokov?

I'd look a few words further back, to where the comment explicitly says as much:

I imagine [Nabokov's works] are like those of other Russian writers

Lotlita is only #4 on the Modern Library 100 Best Novels list.[0] Maybe he would've done better if he'd stuck to writing novels in his first language (Russian)?

[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Library_100_Best_Novels

Reading the Editors' picks there vs. the Readers' picks is amusing.

I could probably do without Ulysses or The Great Gatsby from the Editors list, but 4x Ayn Rand, 3x L. Ron Hubbard? 1984 is probably the only truly great book on the Readers' list, although Tolkien and To Kill a Mockingbird belong on a top-100 list.

Some do still read his books. I have (re)read all his books in the last year or two purely for pleasure. He is actually a minimalist writer - seldom more than 1-4 key characters, succinct prose, linear stories without departures to discuss wars of old... You may like his writing.

Pale Fire and Lolita only have a handful of characters. If you have time this summer, I recommend reading Lolita. It's more than just a novel about a perverted obsession.

Same with (Zaschita Luzhina) Luzhin's Defense / The Defense

I also recommend "The Eye" and "Laughter in the Dark". My favourite writer along with Kundera and Lem (does it give me away as a Central European?).

Of if you just want to dip your toe in the waters, he's written some marvelous short stories. The Visit to the Museum, The Assistant Producer, The Admiralty Spire, and Lik are four favorites of mine.

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