Vladimir Nabokov - Lolita

I've planned for some time to read Nabkov's Lolita and I'm glad I did at at this age, as maybe, if I would have done it earlier I might have not understood...

Last night I was watching a documentary about Brasil; it's a really nice concept, as the country is seen through the eyes of several different people from very different backgrounds, so you see in this way several of the many faces of Brasil, without getting bored. One of the characters from this documentary was a young beautiful 11 years old Lolita. She lived in San Paolo with her granny; her parents divorced and each went on with their own life, re-married and probably got other kids and they almost forgot her. Nevertheless, she said she had a beautiful relationship with both of them.

This gorgeous Lolita - her real name was also something starting with L, maybe Lyde?!- was wearing make-up and she also changed the color of her hair a little. From what I could tell, her grandma was not a big obstacle against her will, and returning home at night was probably not highly unusual. Money was not an issue either for her, as the dad owned 3 hotels in town... It was almost Easter and the documentary was focusing on the big "carpet" she had drowned before a church and on the angel costume -which suited perfectly her perfectly beautiful face- she wore for the Easter parade. Lolita's parents didn't bother to come and see their angel so she was very dissapointed, but she hid her sadness under the most beautiful innocent smile...

Just hours before seeing the movied I had finished reading Lolita. So I couldn't stop thinking : what if Humbert finds this Lolita? She is more of a nimphet than any girl I have ever seen in my life so Humbert could not have resisted her... I'm sure she will fel in love with the first man who shows her some attention, who shows that he cares; and what if he'll be a man in his late thirties with Humbert's desires? Moreover... how many Lolitas have been profanated by an evil Humbert?

Not to mention that modern society encourages Humberts to be born. Magazine covers, television ads, music videos, they all show beautiful seducing Lolitas...

The Plague - Albert Camus

Starting to write on this blog about the books I've read was somehow intended to collect my feeling about the reading. But, in order for this to actually work, I should have written the post immediatly after finishing it. Which, of course, I did not...

Actually, I intended to read Albert Camus' Plague since more than 2 years. I've downloaded the .pdf in French - the original language in which it was written-, in English and in Romanian. I must confess that though it appeared to be such a brilliant idea to read it in 3 languages at the same time, well... it turns out it's not. So I've started it in French and, after less than 25% reading I abandoned French and continued in my native language, as this was not a very easy reading in the author's native language...

As I'm very aware of my very good - not! - memory, I've kept a .txt with all the characters names and a few words about each one. For some reason I imagine Rieux sounds -phonetically- very similar to Tarrou, which it doesn't. So I had to keep a close eye on this two fellows in my txt doc, during the first pages... So here's my char list :

- doctor Bernard Rieux -> you should keep an eye on this dude, as the book concentrates on his perspective on things that are happened. I wouldn't say though he's the main character, as in my opinion this title goes to 'lady plague'. Nobody would ever believe that it's a 'he', right?

- Michel, the old doorman -> I soon realised he played a small role, but it was too late, I wrote his name down and I wasn't gonna delete my work...

- Othon, the judge. He wears a monocle and looks like an owl. I thought that he would have a small part like poor Michel -whom I kind of grew fond of, even if he dissapeared after few pages-, but I felt of course really good when he appeared later in the book.

- Raymond Rambert, the journalist. He's not very tall, but he has lightened intelligent eyes.

- Jean Tarrou -> he lives in a hotel, he's a weird fellow and he keeps some interesting journals

- Mercier - director of derating service
- Paneloux - the priest
- Joseph Grand - he works in the city hall; he's a tall man in his 50s, with a yellow moustache
- Cottard - Grand's neighbour, who had a failed suicide attempt.
- Richard - yet another doctor ( not as bright as Rieux) . He somehow reminded me of Romanian doctors. And that's NOT a compliment.
- Castel - older doctor
- Rigaud - some architect
etc...

Zoë Heller - Notes On A Scandal

I'll start with a book I didn't actually read, which is a very cool way to start writing on a blog with the title "The books I've read". So, I didn't read Zoë Heller's  Notes On A Scandal, but... I've listened it. Actually, this marks the beginning of a new era for me : listening to books instead of reading it.

Of course, when you have few main characters and rather few secondary ones, it works just fine. But when the abundance of characters involved in many plots confuses you even when you read it, I think listening is no longer an option. Or could be an option only if you write down the names and a few details about everyone. But for this particular book, listening to it worked just fine for me.

I even managed to iron a few clothes while doing it - and only ruined one tshirt, but that wasn't even my fault... The tricky part is that it wasn't my Tshirt... Anyway, a film version was released in 2006 and stars Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett and I plan to see it, as I'm curious to see if my characters matches the director's vision. But I know I'll probably be dissapointed, as all the movies made after a book end up being worse than the book...