Quote:
Originally Posted by Gail White
On the other hand, I've never read a single book by Vladimir Nabokov.
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Oh, Gail. Oh, poor, poor, Gail. I have read nearly everything written by that wonderful man--every novel, every poem, every short story and play, his lectures on literature, Boyd's biographies (how wonderfully appropriate is it that Nabokov's two best biographers have the initials A.A. and B.B.?) most of his published letters and interviews, some of his scholarly science papers.
The Gift was his first masterpiece, but not the best place to start. And
King, Queen, Knave could never be considered one of his best works. Start with
Pnin. Lighter and shorter than
The Gift and far funnier, perhaps his funniest novel, but terribly sad in places, and often poignant.
Anyway, the only Salinger I've read is
Seymour which I liked, particularly the "John Keats/John Keats/John, please put your scarf on" haiku tucked in the middle. I can't imagine
Catcher in the Rye being nearly as good.
I haven't read any Dickens. Everything can be excused on my age.