“I was an infant when my parents died. Thye both were ornithologists. I've tried So often to evoke them that today I have a thousand parents. Sadly they Dissolve in their own virtues and recede, But certain words, chance words I hear or read, Such as "bad heart" always to him refer, And "cancer of the pancreas" to her.”
Pale Fire is a 1962 novel by Vladimir Nabokov written as a long poem in four sections followed by a detailed commentary. The poem titled Pale Fire is attributed to the fictional poet John Shade, while the extensive notes are attributed to Charles Kinbote, a neighbor and self-proclaimed friend of Shade. The narrative structure creates profound ambiguity about what actually occurred, as the commentary increasingly reveals biases, inconsistencies, and personal preoccupations that conflict with the poem's surface meaning. The book explores themes of artistic creation, the nature of interpretation, exile from a lost homeland, and the fragility of meaning-making in the face of death. It is considered one of the most innovative novels of the twentieth century. more
Russian-born American novelist, best known for his novel 'Lolita'. Nabokov is renowned for his unique literary style and profound use of language and symbolism. more
“But the world hinges on good fathers and those who would be the merchants of confidence.”
“Strict parents create sneaky kids.”
“Leave Dad alone" I told Aislinn. "His Britishness is sort-circuiting.”
“A misadventurer's greatest fear is their mother.”