Lolita

Despite having not read Lolita, it was no surprise that the element of eroticism was entirely absent in favor of sly humor, mostly wordplay. After all, who would expect Nabokov to write smut? The puns, obscure references, and French phrases would benefit from a closer second reading, but a brisk survey gives a satisfying foretaste. I doubt that much ink has been spilled discussing the suspense the novel creates, but for me that was no small part of its appeal.