The enduring allure of a good mystery

One of the joys of volunteering at Centro’s Mazatlán Lending Library is talking with borrowers about what they read. They’re an impassioned group, hungry for the English word, who animatedly discuss their choices while pausing at the front desk. For them, cruising the library aisles is an adventure of discovery. The purpose of this monthly column is to share their best finds with you. The library has material for people of all ages and tastes, and one of the best ways to ferret out the pearls is to ask for recommendations.

Sometimes you just have to let it be

The Annotated Lolita

Ok, people, it’s time to talk about Lolita. Never in my life have I been so wrong about a book. The first time I read Lolita, I didn’t think very much of it, it was nothing to write home about. It was only because of the intense, incessant urging of a highly esteemed friend - and lifetime Nabokov devotee - that I was talked into trying again. It was a pinnacle reading experience. And I read a lot. I expected to slog through, to be let down. On the contrary, I was struck dumb by the writing; moved by the complex, precise, and accurate emotional depictions; bowled over by the brilliant humor, biting irony, and dry descriptions. Lolita is, indeed, a masterpiece.