I constantly come back to listen to the way Jamie expresses her observations and also brings forth quotes and evidence of what she is stating. This podcast has helped me open my eyes to so many things I can't unsee. Growing up AFAB there's so much subliminal messaging that you don't realize just how disturbing it is until you are older and able to process all of it. In Jamie's experience with the book Lolita she manages to simultaneously call out so many creepy behaviors and just how much this story can tell you about a person depending on how they interpret it. She was Dolores, not lolita

Great podcast

I really wanted to like this podcast. The info and citations were well sourced. I found the host’s voice hard to listen to, couldn’t quite put my finger on why. Tried to stick through to the end, but I had to skip most of the last episode. The voiceovers were really strange at times.

Imagine doing a podcast, a very comprehensive podcast, on one of the most controversial English language books in the 20th Century and not mentioning…The Writing! Imagine. The subject matter is icky, pure, as the kids would say, cringe. But if all you did was read the book just for Nabokov’s ability to illuminate a subject or a scene, or an idea or a plot with his luminescent and lyrical prose, you would be a better reader (or writer?) for it. Sadly, there is NO MENTION of Nabokov’s ability to to write as if he is conducting an orchestra of words that only he can put together as the final masterpiece. I waited and waited and what could have and should have been an episode about the writing, never materialized. Having said that, it is the only flaw in an otherwise thorough delve into Lolita.

This is an amazing podcast! I’m not gonna take a star off for this, but god that entire Lana Del Rey section was cringe.

What an exceptional podcast! So interesting and helped me a lot in putting together a Nabokov exhibit at the uni I work at. My exhibit is mostly on his work in entomology but you cannot have a Nabokov exhibit and not address the Lolita in the room. Thank you.

This podcast is a masterpiece of research and analysis. It is incredibly powerful for survivors of childhood sexual trauma/abuse to listen to, but also for anyone, as we are all affected whether we realize it or not. It’s definitely challenging, but worth it if you can handle the intensity.

There was clearly a huge amount of effort put into this podcast and it shows. But… I was sooo excited about this podcast and the idea of a close examination of Nabokov’s intentions vs. how society has chosen to interpret it is a fascinating subject. But the podcast just kind of lost me… quite long episodes that could get a little tangential. What really did me in though was the readings done by her friends, they were literally unbearable. I turned the podcast off at the Lana Del Rey reading because it was actually so distasteful/offensive that I think I lost respect for the show as a whole (I don’t have a strong opinion on LDR, though I did listen to her music as a teen at the same time I read Lolita and both had an impact at the time. I was very excited to hear the music discussed in this context.) A shame.

I wish I could put into words how much I adore and appreciate the effort put into this series. I only meant to listen to an episode while I was doing housework, and found myself unwilling and practically unable to take my earbuds out, wanting to binge it from beginning to end. This was a book that has some personal meaning to me (in the way it did for some of Jamie’s guests) and I’m just so touched at how this subject was treated with such care and thoughtfulness.

A great listen that goes deep into Lolita - the book, the movies, and more I didn't even know existed. Episodes can be long but always held my interest throughout.

There is an extraordinary attention to detail, charisma, and presentation of information so artful, I can’t think of a peer in the podcasts I listen to. The nuance and depth of this has cleared up so many misconceptions I had and despite the nature of the topic, I’m really enjoying that this conversation feels v safe and takes an unambiguous stance against CSA without being excessively triggering or heavy. I felt nervous initially, but strange as it may seem, listening to this podcast has changed me and made me think deeply things that I’ve only considered in passing. I can comfortably say without exaggeration that this is a masterpiece. My only critique in the entire spotless show is that while I love the idea of having friends voice act some of the quotes, some are a bit too unnecessarily theatric imo. Although I understand the need for levity in very serious discussions like this, some of it is a bit too silly for the subject matter. The overdramatic and clearly affected accents coupled with theatrical pauses often make it hard to actually follow what’s being said in the quote and can be a bit jarring. Although I love the energy when it’s poking fun at an abuser or weirdo at times, most of the time it just doesn’t feel right, especially when the quote itself is literally discussing sexualization and CSA. Attempts at comedy in these instances just seems to undercut the topic (which is odd given the awareness and critique of the stage plays making the similar strange choice to try to make CSA funny) and I keep having to rewind multiple times to string together the full thought bc I’m distracted by the accents or bc of the reading is done one or two words at a time like an overdone recitation of Shakespeare or smth. That could be funny in another context, but here it just feels..off. The quips and snarky comments by the host are great, we need fun moments like that to break through the seriousness, but we are still talking about grievous trauma. Let’s not turn actual lecherous comments by abusers or discussions of abuse into a joke please. Otherwise, the show is handled extremely deftly and has in many ways destigmatized discussions of CSA for me by modeling how to do that in a thoughtful, empathic, and very intentional way and has illuminated the ways that CSA is so normalized. It’s occurred to me that Call Me By Your Name was a very exploitative, similar to Lolita but was dishearteningly unanimously treated like a romantic love story both by the media and people I knew irl, and it always made me uncomfortable. Because of this podcast I now have a solid foundation of language and cultural context to articulate why.

Host does a great job of providing her research on the book and going in depth in the most interesting/important directions. After listening to this podcast, my opinion on the book has changed and I feel more educated on topics that I had before been uncomfortable to even broach.

Jamie does a fantastic job of tackling a massive problem and discussing some seriously heavy topics. I had avoided the discussed book because of the overwhelming amount of misinformation that is out there that aims to evangelize what is objectively a tragedy. I highly recommend this series to everyone because this is a topic that desperately needs more attention.

Jamie is the best.

I can and do listen to her shows straight and this is no different—I’m in 5 episodes deep this evening. I appreciate the time and research taken to create language around such a nuanced topic. This survivor thanks you.

I have to give this five stars because the content is SO well done and SO professional. The research and thought out into the production was obviously extensive. (Though I do wish you had touched a little more on the “loli” anime scene as it is nauseatingly problematic, and participants tend to bend over backwards to explain away how awful it is.) I am putting this out there in the hopes that the host reads reviews, because — PLEASE, please consider re-releasing some of these episodes with more professional voice actors. Most of them were fine, but some were so terrible that they border on offensive. Particularly the Freud and Lana del Rey voices were so horrible. It felt the actors were making a joke out of it and this content is too serious and important for that kind of tomfoolery. It feels honestly disrespectful to people who have suffered CSA and/or who had abusers/experiences facilitated by the ideas of Freud and flippancy of Lana del Rey. Please consider re-recording those bits.

This podcast is extremely revealing of just how deep victim blaming, sexism, and the over-sexualization of minors run in the US. I also found it very revealing of my own personal biases as a cishet man with no traumatic experiences of my own. Thank you Jamie Loftus!

Thank you Jamie for your hard work

Could not finish due to the nature of the podcast but what I did listen to I really did enjoy

Jamie comprehensively unravels the giant knot that surrounds the treatment of survivors and the narratives we tell about abuse. She is well spoken, gracious, and somehow manages to give moments of comic relief in a topic so horrifying. A slay for survivors everywhere🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Jamie delivers a very well researched project in a very captivating way. She even manages to provide some comic relief despite the difficult content matter. Highly recommended

So grateful to Jamie for this detailed dive into a story I had been avoiding. I finally was ready to face this societal problem, the Lolita problem, but not quite ready to read the book. It felt like she held my hand as we waded through the horrible problem of adults blaming children for the sexual abuse done to them. I loved how Jamie looked at this from every possible angle and explored the lessons and repercussions of the novel. Fascinating. Empowering. Thank you for finally telling Dolores’ story. It is so sad that it’s not more understood today, thank you for helping spread the word.

This is exactly the kind of podcast I’m always on the lookout for! Jamie Loftus has a clear vision combined with a open minded willingness to follow where her research leads, and the resulting series of episodes is fascinating, nuanced, deeply compelling, and told with a thoughtfulness that its audience can be incredibly grateful for, because this is some seriously dark and intense subject matter! Thank you, Jamie, for doing such a fantastic job with this one!

The podcast itself is interesting and the host does a good job. The problem is she has her friends do various readings and they are absolutely terrible. I don’t understand why she had a person do a foghorn leghorn voice while impersonating Freud. I actually dreaded when she announced some buddy of hers was going to read a passage.

Jamie rocks and did and excellent job covering this topic. My mind was blown and my heart heart (totally cried while listening), but it was good information and Jamie makes it’s intruding to listen to.

Absolutely fascinating and I wish this had been taught in school lit classes. So informative on what the text really says and the legacy of how misogyny has shaped it. Could not even begin to recommend highly enough.

Started off interesting, but steadily got worse as it leaned more and more on ideology and the worst elements of critical theory.

A sobering look, not only at how the novel has been misread, but how almost every adaptation completely ignores the core message, Humbert’s unreliable narration, and manipulation of everyone around him. The look into the actresses who played Dolores and the role the subject matter has played online and in pop culture is rather fascinating as well. The host covers the topic from many angles and brings good insight to the culture surrounding the novel.

Jaime is so good when she’s with Robert Evans. However on her own she’s so boring, quiet and mumbly…. Such a shame she makes this topic so boring.

She is an amazing and articulate host speaking on a unique topic. It’s a truly incredible podcast. Highly recommend.

Loved listening to this—Jamie, this was a great and thoughtful exploration that had me thinking a lot about my own experiences exploring power and desperate loneliness as a young girl crushing on older men. Thank you so much. (Also loved Robert as Nabokov!)

Lolita is such a nuanced and controversial text/cultural movement, but Jamie does such a great job addressing the complexities, darkness, and themes in and surrounding it. HUGE trigger warning. Such a thoughtful and well-researched examination.

An absolute joy. Such a deep, thoughtful, nuanced take on my favorite book of all time. Made me see new things in the book I know so well. Brings Lolita the book into the modern age.

I learned so much and was very engaged. Love it

As a CSA survivor and writer who was abused by an English teacher, this podcast hit home and helped me understand so much about victim-blaming and society’s sexualisation of children. Eternally grateful for this thoughtful and thoroughly researched podcast. Sending love to all survivors, and gratitude to the host.

In-depth and thoughtful exploration of Lolita’s cultural impact, good and bad, that kept me enthralled the entire time. Bravo!! <333

The host, Jamie Loftus, offers an incredibly nuanced look into the legacy of the infamous novel, Lolita. I highly encourage everyone to listen and reevaluate what our cultural takeaways have been thus far. I found myself rewinding and taking notes. As a child of the 90s I was particularly struck by the messages the misinterpretations (willful if you ask me) have affected my whole life. Excellent podcast and so happy this issue was tackled by a host like Jamie.

I was hesitant to listen to this pod because I hadn’t read the book and I though it was just a surface level review with hot takes. But this is Jamie Loftis and I should’ve known better. Like Acck Cast this pod was a deep-dive complete with research, interviews and relatability to current day events and movements concerning human trafficking, women’s treatment in the arts and sexual abuse of minors. I took more from this pod than I ever expected and I can’t wait to hear what Jamie is working on next.

Insightful, thorough, interesting. Host is smart and entertaining. Wish my book group had had this when we discussed Lolita. Or just had the host over for a glass of wine.

This podcast truly changed how I think about Lolita and more importantly, Dolores Haze. Jamie does an excellent job tracing how the cultural concept of Lolita has strayed so far from the book and continues to be used to harm victims/survivors of childhood sexual abuse. While the material about abuse is challenging to listen to, this podcast centers survivors and provides a nuanced view of the book, the author, and the cultural interpretation that would rather blame victims than grapple the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse. Highly recommend!

Excellent podcast. Can’t wait for Jamie’s next project.

Fascinating, well researched, myth busting podcast that makes me appreciate the book even more and have more understanding of its purpose and Nabokov’s writing techniques. I love the host’s analysis: Lolita has been misunderstood and mischaracterized in our culture because (DUH) our culture is one that glorifies sexual violence and tacitly excuses child abuse. She provides ample examples and thoughtful discussion. Loved it!!

A very thorough review of a book I had never thought of much before. I’ve learned a lot over the course of this podcast and felt stimulated by literature discussion in a way I haven’t felt since college. This podcast also helped me work through some personal issues that were buried. Highly recommend for anyone interested in literature or crime novels, or anyone concerned with oversexualization of minors. Not a ‘fun’ listen, but one very much worth the time.

An incredibly thorough examination of the book and the world’s reaction to it. I plowed through all the episodes within a week out of fascination. High praise to Jamie Loftus and her team.

I was a kid when I read the book. There were clearly things I did not get at the time. This podcast has broadened my understanding of the book and it’s cultural impact. I’m a male and I now I feel a greater appreciation of how this book, and many other things, put undue pressure on girls and women. Really fascinating and insightful. I actually bought the annotated version of the book (with no picture on the cover) so I can read it again.

obvious TW for child sexual assault and grooming. if you have the space to hear about this, and want to know more about the cultural impact of Nobokov and Lolita please give this a try!! this is one of my favorite podcasts i’ve listened to in years. bravo Jamie!

This is so heartfelt and ambitious and warm and scrupulous and caring and painstaking and the most honest and complicated look at the novel I’ve known. This book can be a mirror of what one sees in the world, and I’m at turns delighted and humbled and horrified by what it brings out in people. Thank you for making this podcast, bringing these worlds to light, and making me feel less crazy for thinking I could see and hear Dolores in those pages.

Jamie Loftus has done an amazing job with the research, the writing, and the narration of this incredible podcast. It's just too darn bad she did not use professional readers for all of the voice acting. She seems to have chosen her friends, or kids from some high school speech class to do all the voices, and they are cringe-worthy. I find her selection of a speaker doing a bad rendition of a particular southern American dialect as the voice of Sigmund Freud to be particularly egregious. Not only is it a terrible performance, but I find it, how shall I put it, racist? Her distain for Freud is clear, and she stereotypically associates the dialect with all the bad traits she is highlighting for Dr. Freud. This is unfair to the people who happen to speak with that dialect. A neutral accent or maybe a German accent would've been more appropriate. Notwithstanding all this, I am thoroughly appreciating this podcast.

It broke me, and it can break you, too! Loved it!

Every episode gives you so much to think about. Such important topics. If we don’t talk about these things, how will they change. Empowering. It may take you a while to listen to it all, because you do have to stop and think, but so worth it.