read proust

Here it is April, and there’s been no Proust read. I look like a monkey now that I’ve put it off and begun reading Coetzee instead.

I read Swann’s Way in December and January, and loved it, the details and the rhythm and the humor of it. I’ve been taking a break to read other things, but plan to start Within a Budding Grove soon.

I am gearing up to the year of living Proustfully. I am going to begin in the new year, right after my usual Christmas feast of quiet and elegant despair, Robb Forman Dew style.

My classics book group is currently reading Swann’s Way (at my suggestion) but I am the only one who is liking it so far! I love the way he writes and don’t mind that nothing much happens—it is worth it for the gems of language and insights he offers. Not to mention that it got me to make madelienes for the first time! I have ordered the second book and plan to keep reading until I have finished all 6.

Ok, I am almost finished with the first one and plan to start the second (although I may take a short break and read something else in between) I am really enjoying this, although some of the loooong sentances are hard to stick with.

I’d love to hear from other people who are reading or have read Proust.

I will be visting some of the places in Remembrance of Things Past while I’m in Paris. Perhaps that will inspire me.

I bought a box with the entire collection in 2003, started reading it, but then stopped. Resuming today and hope to go through with it this time!!!

Admittedly, it was for university, but still I have to be able to discuss this book in my tutorials and so I had to get through it, maybe I’m not the most appreciative person in the world who has ever read Proust but I think my classes will enable me to see more of the skill and innovation in his work, for now though I’m just glad I did it rather than putting it off and blagging my first few classes!

I want to read Proust but I have no time. I work every day and during the holidays I travel. I need to take a vacation to read, read, read and read. Maybe my first goal should be, get free time.

way too much on my plate at the moment to be reading Proust. :-(

Thoreau before proust