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Lolito=male Lolita?

“Lolito” is a coming-of-age novel written by Ben Brooks and published in 2013. It is a male version of Lolita, written in a modern and funny style. The story is set in a city in the UK.

After Edgar, who is the protagonist of the novel, has been betrayed by his first love named Alice, he goes looking for cyber romances and there he meets Marcy. The middle-aged woman and the fifteen-year-old boy start an internet affair. Will their relationship take place in the real world? And what about their age difference?

These questions will certainly keep the reader in constant suspense throughout the novel. The narrative style is very clever because of the way the message comes out. When you continue reading, you gradually understand what the story is really about. The narrative style adds to that effect. In addition, the language and the novel’s writing style are rather feasible.

I clearly recommend “Lolito” to people my age and older because it addresses important topics. Young readers might not be able to understand the real message between the lines. I think that the comic parts sometimes outshine the serious issues addressed by the author. Yet, all in all, the novel is suitable for teenagers and young adults.

Naila (15)

Hilariously controversial!

 “Lolito” was written by the young author Ben Brooks and published in 2013. The story is set in present-day England and centers around 15-year-old Edgar Allison who has been cheated on by his 14-year-old girlfriend.

Led by lovesickness, he decides to join an adult chatroom to find distraction and consolation. There he meets middle aged Macy who believes that Edgar is 25-year-old Tom Swanson. As the story continues, they keep on chatting. But what will happen next? Will they ever meet in the real world? And, is Macy really the kind of woman Edgar thinks she is?

The novel is written in informal English and suitable for learners of English at all stages. The use of short sentences and informal register, including slang, make the main character appear rather authentic as the reader is able to dig into the thoughts of a 15-year-old teenager. Furthermore, the story also sends out a really strong message although I must say that it takes a while to understand it because it gets somewhat lost as you read on. I believe the novel deals with an extremely serious topic.

I would recommend “Lolito” to people above the age of 14, since it contains a few explicit passages. However, all in all, “Lolito” is a well-written novel.

Celina (15)