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Title: What it's Like to go Mad
Review: This is one of Nabokov's early works, but it's a very mature story--the prose is sparse, unnecessary detail is nonexistent and the story is maddeningly gripping. Nabokov follows (although not usually linearly) the young Russian chess prodigy, Luzhin, through his strange and obsessive rise to the top of the chess world, his marriage to a fascinating and caring woman, and his slow, maddeningly intricate and psychologically complex 'downfall' (though this isn't the right word). I recommend this book for at least three reasons: 1) It's short and gripping 2) Nabokov's prose is inspiring and 3) The story of poor Luzhin makes you feel as if you too are going mad (this is a good thing--you get to experience a plausible account of madness without--let's hope--going mad yourself). Enjoy!
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