In the enchanter lila azam zanganeh takes a creative approach to reading and reflecting on the works of vladimir nabokov, and on the author. In love with the great writer of happiness vladimir nabokov for as long as she could remember, lila azam zanganeh takes a literary road trip to explore the geography, psychology and. Now, nabokov s own creative reader lila azam zanganeh lends l. She is a member of the jury for the 2017 man booker prize for fiction. Lila azam zanganeh author of my sister, guard your veil. The exquisite pleasures of being nabokov the boston globe. The protagonist of vladimir nabokov s the gift playfully dreamed of writing a practical handbook. Azam zanganeh was born in paris to iranian parents. Sarah hall in conversation with lila azam zanganeh. Her voice is intimate and alluring, and the enchanter provokes a steady hum of joyousness in the readers own mind.
The small book traces azam zanganehs own growth as a writer and the. Lila azam zanganeh remembers dmitri nabokov for three days and three nights, i became his reader, reading to him from my own work and. Nabokov and happiness by lila azam zanganeh is an obsessive homage too full of quivers and quavers. Discovering happiness in reading the work of an extraordinary writer. Nabokov, the master of narrative trickery and literary puzzles, was known for, among countless other accolades and seminal works, his innovative autobiography, speak memory, which was less a straightforward memoir than a series of memories that blurred fiction and fact and past and present. Lila azam zanganeh is a writer raised in paris, france, by exiled iranian parents. The official website of lila azam zanganeh, author of the enchanter. Now, nabokovs own creative reader lila azam zanganeh lends life to this vision with sly sophistication and ebullient charm, as she shares the delirious joy to be found in reading the masterpieces of the. Jul 29, 2011 what promises to be an interesting merger of critical theory, popular biography and memoir turns out to be little more than an expression of unselfconscious, occasionally creepy fandom in lila azam. Mar 02, 2012 lila azam zanganeh remembers dmitri nabokov for three days and three nights, i became his reader, reading to him from my own work and from the works of his father lila azam zanganeh. It is the essence of the nabokovian text which lila azam zanganeh, in this sumptuous book, manages to catch in her delicate net. May 26, 2011 lila azam zanganeh loved nabokov from an early age and has now turned her passion into a book.
Much as i was reluctant to draw parallels between nabokov and myselffor obvious reasons, because it would have been pretentious, arrogant, and also kitschi think that, for certain, there are similarities in terms of how we came to the english language. This book is plainly not an analysis of nabokovs work in the academic sense. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, exhibit number one. Join facebook to connect with lila azam zanganeh and others you may know. Lila azam zanganeh was born in paris to iranian parents. The 10 best vladimir nabokov books by brian boyd nov 06, 2015 awardwinning nabokov biographer brian boyd wrote an ma thesis that vladimir nabokov called brilliant and a phd thesis that. Nabokov and happiness by lila azam zanganeh overview plunging into the enchanted and luminous worlds of speak, memory.
Lila hosted the final session of the bozar book club in brussels, belgium. Eavesdrop on an intimate conversation between two of the most influential and criticallyacclaimed writers of our day. Nabokov and happiness one cobaltblue morning of butterfly hunting, in august 1971, after climbing a swiss mountain, looking tanned and serene, net in hand, vladimir nabokov told his son dmitri he had fulfilled all. Zanganeh argues that we read books and should read nabokovs books in particular to reenchant the world. But be warned its like nothing youve read before thu 26 may 2011 10. This rather airy notion is grounded in nabokovs conception of the creative reader a fellow dreamer, observing the minute detail of the world foreword. She used to dread reading books, she writes, until she was wrenched into her present state of. The author of lolita is easy to admire, says nicholas shakespeare, but the enchanter. The book details its authors love affair with nabokov, and tells how she learned to read books from his novels, using them as doorways to.
Nabokov and happiness is a playfully written roadnovel. Nabokov claimed that originality is a writers only honesty. This beautifully illuminated book will both reignite the passion of experienced. May 02, 2011 the protagonist of vladimir nabokov s the gift playfully dreamed of writing a practical handbook. May 02, 2011 delving into the magical world and worlds of vladimir nabokov, lila azam zanganeh creates a stunningly original work of art. Univers called her in new york, where she now lives, and ask her about different aspects of books, russian writers and love. This is an aphorism that sounds true but isnt, and the work of vladimir nabokov, as lila azam zanganeh so lightly and elegantly shows us, is its great disproof. What promises to be an interesting merger of critical theory, popular biography and memoir turns out to be little more than an expression of unselfconscious, occasionally creepy fandom in.
It is a timely reminder of why we read and write, and why now perhaps more than ever we need to connect to the world through nabokovs enchanted third eye of imagination. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Interview with dmitri nabokov, 69, who comments on decision to sell his father vladimir nabokovs books and memorabilia, including elaborate sketches of butterflies. Before she could publish the enchanter, her book about novelist vladimir nabokov, lila azam zanganeh needed the permission of. And lila azam zanganehs wonderful new book the enchanter is a work of genuine and delightful originality. Now, nabokovs own creative reader lila azam zanganeh lends life to this vision with sly sophistication and ebullient charm, as she shares the delirious joy to be found in reading the masterpieces of the great. Nabokov was born on 22 april 1899 10 april 1899 old style, in saint petersburg, to a wealthy and prominent family of the russian nobility that traced its roots to the 14thcentury tatar prince nabok murza, who entered into the service of the tsars, and from whom the family name is derived 16 his father was the liberal lawyer, statesman, and journalist vladimir dmitrievich nabokov. May 02, 2011 in that assertion, azam zanganeh is in good literary company. American readers have long felt guilty about loving lolita. Nabokov and happiness and edited a volume of essays by iranian writers, my sister guard your veil, my brother guard your eyes. Butterflies and other bits of nabokovs life, dispersed to. The protagonist of vladimir nabokovs the gift playfully dreamed of w. May 23, 2011 the author of lolita is easy to admire, says nicholas shakespeare, but the enchanter.
Nabokov and happiness one cobaltblue morning of butterfly hunting, in august 1971, after climbing a swiss mountain, looking tanned and serene, net in hand, vladimir nabokov told his son dmitri he had fulfilled all he ever dreamed and was a supremely happy man. The ambrosia of imagination is offered in books, in art. The 10 best vladimir nabokov books publishers weekly. Lila has written a fanciful foreword to julian greens paris for penguin classics. The famous novelist was also a distinguished lepidopterist, husband, pedant and avuncular cutiea fat hatless old man in shorts, as he described himselfand lila azam zanganehs the enchanter. But be warned its like nothing youve read before, writes william skidelsky. Nabokov and happiness by lila azam zanganeh available from rakuten kobo.
After studying literature and philosophy at the ecole normale superieure, she moved to the united states to become a teaching fellow in literature, cinema, and romance languages at harvard university. Edmund white has called nabokov the high priest of sensuality and desire. Lila azam zanganeh tells us with passion and enchanting. Lila azam zanganeh on why literature makes us better. Plus, free twoday shipping for six months when you sign up for amazon prime for students. The enchanter by lila azam zanganeh overdrive rakuten.
Nabokov and happiness by lila azam zanganeh booksamillion. A family chronicle 1967 and his autobiography speak, memory 1951. The protagonist of vladimir nabokovs the gift playfully dreamed of writing a practical handbook. Sarah hall in conversation with lila azam zanganeh national. Together, they will indulge in a noholdsbarred discussion of sex, death and everything in between. Lila azam zanganeh remembers dmitri nabokov books the. Reading makes us better seers, imagination enables us to reinvent ourselves. Lila azam zanganeh on why literature makes us better lovers. An interview for the fall 2012 loggernaut reading series. Born in 1976, in paris to iranian emigre parents, zanganeh assembles a delighting collage of literary criticism, biography, and fiction in this postmodern love letter to russian writer vladimir nabokov. Lila azam zangeneh with sly sophistication and ebullient charm, lila azam zanganeh shares the intoxication of delirious joy to be found in reading in particular, in reading the masterpieces of the great writer of. Now, nabokovs own creative reader lila azam zanganeh lends life to this visio. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Lila azam zanganeh is an acclaimed writer, journalist, and public intellectual. Apr 23, 2014 reading makes us better seers, imagination enables us to reinvent ourselves. The beauty of nabokov s writing is explored with poetic precision and wonder and within this search for lost time she discovers a glimmer of all that remains. Despite an opening sentence that claims and warns, i have always dreaded reading and books, azam zanganeh has certainly immersed herself in the books she discusses here.