Welcome back to "Hooked on the First Line," where James and master storyteller Cal Fussman dig deep into what makes the opening lines of novels so captivating. Today's focal point is the notoriously controversial but beautifully penned 'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov.
"Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta."
These opening lines are as alluring as they are unsettling, a fitting introduction to Nabokov's tale.
The episode doesn't stop at 'Lolita'; it branches out into the first lines of Nabokov's 'Ada' and 'Laughter in the Dark,' showing that the author's skill in gripping the reader is not a one-off but a recurring theme in his work. James and Cal talk about the stylistic elements, the melody in the words, and the ethical conundrums posed right from the first sentence. How do these lines affect our perception of the characters and the unfolding story? And how does Nabokov manage to lure us into complex emotional landscapes with just a few words? Discover the craftsmanship behind some of literature's most iconic opening lines.
------------
What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!
Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!
------------
Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!
My new book Skip the Line is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!
Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.
I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltucher.com/podcast.
------------
Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to “The James Altucher Show” wherever you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts
Stitcher
iHeart Radio
Spotify
Follow me on Social Media:
YouTube
Modern Finance, Web3 & NFTs | James on 'The NFT Show'
Is There Anyone You Wouldn't Interview? | Andrew Gold
The Making of a Customer | Home Depot Co-Founder Bernie Marcus
A 'Make Me a Millionaire' Mentee's Musings | James' Interview on "The James Quandahl Show"
Andrew Tate: The Most Googled Man in the World Refuses to be Cancelled
The ABC's for Franchisees | Entrepreneur's Jason Feifer
How to Fail Up | 'On the Edge with Andrew Gold' Podcast
Ryan Holiday: Cynic in the Streets, Stoic in the Sheets
A Mercenary's Guide to Midterm Gambling | Phillip Stutts
Entrepreneur's Paradise | Coolio (Redux)
The Long Century: 1870-2010 | J. Bradford DeLong
America in 100 Charts | Scott Galloway
Unlock Your Potential | Jeff Lerner Interviews James!
Survival of the Richest | Douglas Rushkoff
Yelling Fire in the Movie Theater | Netflix, Redbox, & Movie Pass Exec. Mitch Lowe
Warren Buffett's Worst Trade Ever | Trung Phan
Did Hans Niemann Cheat: The Evidence! | IM Ken Regan
How to Invest: GOAT Edition | The Carlyle Group's David Rubenstein
Wall Street Insane! EP06: Scam and Fraud on Wall Street!
My Life in 4 Trades | Maggie Lake Interviews James
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free