This is a truly fantastic book. I know this is a bold statement, but I think it should be regarded as a classic!

Invitation to a Beheading is the story of the imprisonment of Cinncinatus, a man who has been sentenced to death for a crime no one will actually mention. His time in prison devolves into a dream-like series of bizarre events as he struggles to comes to terms with the end of his life. In the end, the book is a powerful comment on submission and acceptance. I would recommend this novel to anyone. ( )

http://sarahbbc.wordpress.com/2008/12... ( )

What a bizarre little book! Hilarious in some parts, heartbreaking in others, brilliant throughout, with a neat little twist at the end. I was surprised, but it really makes perfect sense (and is maybe the only part of the novel that does). Nabokov's imagination never fails to impress. ( )

Even better the second time around. The tragedy of the absurd is deeply felt. ( )

So you’re different. You stand out. You don’t conform. And thus you’re convicted and your sentence is execution… by beheading. The advantage it would seem is that at least you know when you will die because isn’t that the concern of everyone, the great mystery and anxiety of not knowing when you’re ticket number is called. If you knew when you could at least prepare. But the protagonist Cincinnatus soon realizes that he does not have this advantage because his jailers won’t tell him the time of his planned execution.

I knew that I was starting an unusual book when soon after his sentence one of the jailers offers to dance the waltz with Cincinnatus. Reading this book was like falling down Alice’s hole and into one of her adventures though this story almost takes place exclusively in Cincinnatus’ cell and there are no talking rabbits, just a hungry spider.

This was one of Nabokov’s earlier works written in the Russian language and translated by his son Dmitri. Great read. ( )