Speak, Memory An Autobiography Revisited

much rather straightforward opus of Nabokov I've read so far. a delightfully surreal, tongue-in-cheek retelling of some portion of Nabokov's own life. Nabokov's elucidation and verbal virtuosity still stands out despite the lack there of complexity and profoundness Nabokov usually thrives of.

There's something about Nabokov's stature and oeuvre — the way he gets under your skin — that makes you want to please him by reading well. And here, reading well and closely pays off big time. We get to veer through from Nabokov's lens, of his life; human connections; nationality; his passion for entomology and chess strategies; politics; opinions on other literary authors; and other of his thematic currents. In much of this work, we feel his perspicacity, that is never hidden, but yet, subdued in the plain sight for readers to imbue; to enjoy depicting their own thoughts; as if sipping on a lavish glass of wine for every page turned.

Hmmm I hoped for more of his thought process/inspirations behind his writing but all in all it was interesting enough. His fascination with catching butterflies...was a lot. The fact that he went into adulthood trying to classify and discover species... Interesting enough.