Play Book Tag discussion

Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov - 4* - My Review

Professor Timofey Pavlovich Pnin is a Russian émigré living in the US in the 1950s. He is an assistant professor of Russian at the small (fictional) Waindell College. Pnin’s command of the English language is imperfect, leading to frequent linguistic misunderstandings. Much of the humor involves Pnin’s sincere but inept attempts at navigating American culture. It appears to be told by someone who knows Pnin well, but as the story progresses, we learn more about the narrator, and it becomes obvious that he is unreliable. The storyline follows Pnin’s series of misadventures. It is also a satire of academia. Themes include communication, displacement, identity, belonging, loneliness, and memory.

Toward the end, more is revealed about the narrator, which helps explain why he takes potshots at Pnin, but it still leaves many questions. As I am learning, this technique is classic Nabokov – he also uses it in Pale Fire. Nabokov is obviously a very intelligent author who writes complex stories that challenge the reader to keep up. Nabokov has an amazing facility with language. The writing is clever, playful, and erudite. It is the type of postmodern book that lends itself well to analysis by college literature classes.

PBT Steeplechase - tagged "college" x23:
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

PBT June BWF Extra P and tagged "Europe" x9:
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

I enjoy Nabokov and the way he plays with literary conventions, but I haven't read this one, I'll try to get it in this month!

It's humorous with an undercurrent of sadness. Pnin is obviously a fish out of water, and still likes to reminisce about his former home in Russia. He fled the Bolshevik Revolution. There's a lot I could write about this novel, but I tried to keep it short. I'll be interested to see what you think of it, Robin.

There's something outrageous and bold about Nabokov's writing, unapologetic and brave almost foolhardy - and he doesn't care. He forges ahead. Obviously Lolita is the pinacle of this in his works but I see it elsewhere as well. And I just LOVE it!

I agree that "unapologetic" is a great way to describe Nabokov's writing. He was obviously a brilliant guy. Lolita was too much for me, but I've enjoyed the all the others I've read.