August 18th, 1958, the book “Lolita” was first published in the United States. This is quite an unusual book, written by Vladimir Nabokov. He was a Russian author who moved to America, became a citizen, and then began writing in English. Nabokov had an unusual writing style called Fancy Prose Style, that was very lyrical and had an emphasis on word play. This book had been printed several years before by Olympia Press in France, after it was turned down by all major publishers. He originally was going to write it under the pseudonym- Vivian Darkbloom. After positive reviews, the book was finally then published in America. It is now considered one of the finest novels of the 20th century. The subject is a dificult one, yet one is still drawn in to Nabokov’s story, and writing skills. He is an unusual writer.
I have the entire works of Vladimir Nabokov, by the Library of America.
As well as being an important novel, the movie “Lolita” from 1962 was also memorable. The movie starred James Mason, Shelly Winters, Peter Sellers, and Sue Lyon (as Lolita). It was directed by Stanley Kubrick. It was nominated for Golden Globes for all of the actors and the director. Sue Lyon won. It also is quite unusual. It is not too often I recommend a movie to a book. These are both worth the time, it may just be hard for some to invest enough time for the novel.
August 18th is National Bad Poetry Day. While we go from good writing to bad writing, they both may have some lewd undertones.To illustrate, I pull a few books from my Peter Pauper Press books.
I start with “Libertine Lyrics” “By Various Authors Mostly of the XVII and XVIII Centuries” collected and published by Peter Pauper Press, 1941. While not sure if good or bad poetry, it is rather bawdy for several hundred years old writings.
My favorite poem here is “The Bottom” a rather Jack and Jill-like story, with Strephon and Phillis. I will give you the first stanza:
I pull a few more Peter Pauper Press books for National Bad Poetry Day. Limericks could be classified as bad poetry.
“The World’s Best Limericks” 1951; “The Little Limerick Book” 1955; and “Laundered Limericks” 1960.
Here is one of those ‘bad poetry’ limericks:
I must admit, I have written my share of bad poetry. This one sits on a library shelf.
As I discuss bad writings, I am reminded that I have been scribbling these book-review stories with little anecdotes every day since January 1st. I told myself I would circulate a year’s worth of stories, and with (as Poe would say,) “…many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore” from my library. I hope that both the stories and the books have garnered some interest.
Librarytomes 