/lit/ - Literature

he's literally me.

>>17098834

what I am in for?

>>16353786
The Gift is definitely fantastic, but everybody should read Pnin though if they haven't, I think that one is truly his best

This is something that has been bugging me for a while recently. I thought maybe it would be fun to discuss on /lit/ and some of you might have answers/ideas.

So if you've read Pnin, you'll know the narrator doesn't like Pnin very much. As you read the book you slowly become aware that the narrator is a character in the novel and that he isn't unbiased. If I remember right (it's been over 2 years) the narrator actually stole Pnin's wife from him and is somewhat responsible for some of the downturn's of Pnin's life. So the narrator has it in for Pnin and gets a laugh from making a fool of Pnin. Hence the lighthearted comic tone of the novel, with emphasis on Pnin being an odd, fish-out-of-water, bungling idiot. But then we have the idyll at the Russian Émigre Retreat. Here the character of Pnin shines. He is a Russian superstar. Everyone at the retreat looks up to him and respects him. He is shown to be suave, I think a ladies man, and extremely skilled. Completely opposite of what we've come to expect of Pnin. Of course this creates a comedic effect and builds on Nabokov's theme of being an émigre in a foreign country, etc. Ok but here's my problem. The narrator has it in for Pnin. He loves making him look like an idiot. The whole novel is narrated by him, so he is narrating the Russian Émigre Retreat. So why should I believe the narration of the events? Isn't it likely the narrator set up this comedic contrast on purpose? Isn't it likely the whole event is fabricated? Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Any thoughts?

This may be Nabokov's finest work. For all the plebs who repeat the insipid "he's all style no substance" criticism, read Pnin right away, a book brimming with more humanity than most of the novels that receive that praise. It's humorous, sad, touching, and one of the rarer moments when we see Nabokov ungaurded

>>13411771
Pnin by nabokov. It's okay. I'm about 1/3rd through it. Honestly getting tired of reading books where the main character is a cuck and a loser. The Russians seem to have a habit of this.

I want to read Pnin, but is there any point to it? What does it say? Cheers.

tfw you reach the final chapter and realize Pnin was actually the real Chad in the end

Rec me some campus novels /lit/

>>10785318
Pnin by Nabokov is 100% this and its hilarious

Does anyone have comments on pic related they'd care to share? Just finished reading and I really enjoyed it, but I'd be grateful for any added insight.