Serena > Recent Status Updates

In part one, Dolores had a voice - she spoke, had personality, was lively, dynamic, a happy child.

In part two, she has faded into the background. Her despair transcends every page. We no longer hear from her, only of her.

Nothing HH says is reliable. Contradictions everywhere. A manipulator - of people and truth.
But.... Nabokov's story-telling is so compelling it is hard to put this down

I've never experienced fear going into a book. But that is me rn

Will anyone remain alive by the end?

Peter's psycho is starting to show

I have a theory....

Nikolai's confession..... he is the devil incarnate

One Brandy and Peter really just said to Stavrogin "You're the leader, the sun, and I'm your worm"

Dear Mrs Danvers, please get a hobby

gothic lit always hits

Maxim is so creepy, and so subtly aggressive. Ick

Peter is kind of demonic.
Vavara, what a terrible judge of character you are.

Peter, the pot-stirrer, has entered the drawing room

Is this meant to be comical? Because two grown women, childhood friends, throwing jabs at each other has me sniggering

these men are such gossips lmao

I'm only reading about 50 pages a day, but I like it so far.
Once Nikolai and his absolute absurdity came into the picture, I understood the title.

I am both sick to my stomach, and completely enthralled.
Villiam is mentally ill, the cause... wealth. He's a deranged man, living on his hilltop, completely detached from reality, exploiting the villagers, and hoarding resources. Vile.
And there aren't even enough characters left for me to get started on Jude! Another vile man.
Anyway, i's really quite good (if you can get past the grotesque)

It's quite weird, dark and grotesque at times, and yet I am enjoying it (?)

"..we really did resemble those whom justice or human hatred has forced to live behind bars."

and suddenly I think I know what the underlying theme might be (but we shall see)

me on p154: "how can a dagger cut through stone?"
narrator on p155: "it's as if this dagger was made to cut through stone."

lol okay thanks author

Dare I say I am finding this kind of ..... dull

I liked Notes from Underground. I think a lot of it is even relevant today. I couldn't help but compare the underground man with those in the incel or red pill communities - deeply insecure, lonely, angry men.
But he had self-awareness; he knew exactly why he was acting the way he was, and would do it anyway. So much acting out of spite, and then harming himself in the process. Anyway blah blah, much to ponder

Part 1 only, do not judge me, I know he is mad, but! I found myself agreeing with some points ~ humans, people, emotions, can't be tabulated. Expecting rationality at all points in irrational.
Anyway, maybe I will change....onto part two

I don't know if I am smart enough to understand this. So abstract, maybe too abstract (for me)

This is becoming a slog to get through.
It is illuminating on Mao's China, but the writing is so dry.
Alas, I will continue

I know it's early days, but.... I love this

Maomao's always there to stop me from slumping

The obsession isn't cute, but I do love the drama of it

I was confused, when we switched to Swann' life, but now I'm so in it

I know this is going to an all-time favourite. (I actually knew around the 20% mark)
Emerence is nuanced, complex, and hardened by her life experiences.
No one is born cold, it happens along the way - and so, I have been skeptical of the narrators judgements.