Thursday, July 07, 2005

Invitation to a Beheading

I've just finished Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov. It was written in 1959, in the USSR. The influence Communist rule is present from the very beginning. The story is about a man named Cincinnatus C. (his last name is never given), and the book opens with Cincinnatus being sentenced to death in a court of law. The story is in the USSR, of course, but also some kind of strange, alternate reality runs parallel to the events that unfold. I don't want to give too much away: the book basically depicts Cininnatus' last days in prison, so much of the book is consumed with introspective thoughts and interactions with prison employees. But, the book reminded me of Franz Kafka's The Trial in that the reader is drawn into something serious that is happening to the main character; it is not entirely clear how he got into that position, but it is also clear that there is little the main character can do about his situation and the actions of the people around him. It is frustrating at times for this reason, but the story is gripping, and pulls you along, agressively. I recommend it to both of you, although I personally expect that Linz will like it better than Kris.

2 Comments:

Blogger Linz said...

Does anyone else ever feel like Nes is completely eruditer than all of us? Seriously, she reads the best books.

2:40 AM  
Blogger VB said...

That is exactly it.

10:25 AM  

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