1 week 1 Lolita

Sadly, I've finished Lolita, and said goodbye to old Humbert Humbert. Through the whole book I had a hard time putting a movie-star face and physique to him. He seemed more like Adam Krug, probably because I only read Bend Sinister a few months ago. What reinforced my difficulty was the fact that he was European. I really enjoyed the author's afterward, in which he addresses his critics. How human. My favorite part, and this to me felt as good as petting a kitten or a baby rabbit, was this:


___Lest the little statement I am making here seem an airing of grudges I must hastedn to add that besides the lambs who read the typescript of Lolita or its Olympia Press edition in a spirit of 'Why did he have to write it?' or 'Why should I read about maniacs?' there have been a number of wise, sensitive, and staunch people who understood my book much better than I can explain its mechanism here.
___Every serious write, I dare say, is aware of this or that published book of his as of a constant comforting presence. Its pilot light is steadily burning somewhere in the basement and a mere touch applied to one's private thermostat instantly results in a quiet little explosion of familiar warmth. This presence, this glow of the book in an ever accessible remoteness is a most companionable feeling, and the better the book has conformed to its prefigured contour and color the ampler and smoother it glows. But even so, there are certain points, byroads, favorite hollows that one evokes more eagerly and enjoys more tenderly than the rest of one's book.

How soothing to read a justification for writing expressed this way. I admit I find it strange to be referring to myself as soothed by the words, but I don't have a better way of putting it at the moment. I don't want to say heart-strings, because it's not really the case. It's more like coming out of a cold building and feeling the warm sun on my skin.

I can't get my blog composer to put in spaces or tab ahead of the beginning of the paragraphs of my quoted text. If you happen to wander by, and know the answer I'd appreciate your input.