Dave’s Comments (group member since May 24, 2014)

Dave’s comments from the Reading Proust's In Search of Lost Time in 2014 group.

Helpful as always Marcelita. Email sent to Mr Alexander.

Its not through direct comments Renato, its through passing reference by Norpois to Odette using "the child" for emotional blackmail by denying Swann access (Swann seems not to have noticed) before marriage. Then as the Narrator talks about the relationship's journey toward marriage, he makes reference to the "child" once or twice and to his "daughter once I believe.

Marcelita wrote: "Dave wrote: "Marcelita, I am trying to join the Moderated Yahoo Proust group (the one with 707 members). I applied two weeks ago and my membership got rejected after 14 days when no one approved it..."

Thank you Marcelita, I'll be persistent.

I probably would have been better off if I had selectively reread as you do Jonathan. As I think I've mentioned before, the first three volumes were an uphill struggle for me. It took all that time to acclimate to Proust's syntax and style. I remember liking parts of Vol. I but very little of volume II. Whatever comments I have here I expect will be the type of fill-in-the-blank on plots and characters.

Marcelita, I am trying to join the Moderated Yahoo Proust group (the one with 707 members). I applied two weeks ago and my membership got rejected after 14 days when no one approved it. I also sent an email to the list owner with no resonse. Who is in charge of approving application? Are they on vacation? And recommendations would be appreciated.

This Extension of Swan in Love also speaks frankly of Swann's death and gives very moving commentary on life and death with specific reference to Swann. This commentary carries through by implication to events that occur long after Swann's death. This is not a spoiler because I don't think the full implication of the commentary will be revealed until a reader has finished the whole book.

It is this type of material, rather than just details I missed, which occurs fairly frequently and makes rereading so fulfilling to me.

This belongs in Volume Two but I can't figure out which week.

When the group read Vol. 2 was the continuation of the "Swann in Love" story in the middle of the Norpois dinner discussed?

Norpois mentions he was at the Swann's the night before, then starts talking about Swann and Odette's standing in society which leads him to speculate on whether Swann made a mistake in marriage. In the middle of a paragraph the narrator launches into a five page, third-person digression of events leading to Swann's decision to marry that is really a continuation "Swann in Love".

The biggest revelation - mentioned once by Norpois and twice or three times by the Narrator (always indirectly) was that Gilberte was born before they were married! But Gilberte was not the stated reason they eventually married.

I missed this completely the first read.

Jonathan wrote: "Yes, I liked the Penguin version for vol.2.

I just realised Dave, that you might overtake us with your re-read!"

lol, I don't think so, I'm taking it real slow. Although on days we have a lot of discussion here, I get motivated and read a bit more.

I can certainly relate Jonathan. But I'm a wuss - I just give in and read more. For the second volume I am reading the Penguin edition. As you mentioned the Introduction was great and I'm enjoying the footnotes.

My worst nightmare of an unreliable narrator!

As for Albertine and her friends, this is one of many speculations the narrator obsesses over. It like the narrator transforms into Gollum, squatting in his dark cool den, drooling and obsessing over his "Precious."

I've never seen anything in commentaries that suggests "Swan in Love" is not part of the story with everything else. But it is never disclosed how the narrator know's Swann and Odette's story. But understanding the complex structure of the whole book at the end may provide clues.

Albertine know both daughter and friend Sunny.

Referring back to our discussion on etymology of names, in the last section of SW called "Place Names - The Name" there is a lengthy discourse on how the name Balbec makes the narrator imagine a foggy, storm-tossed coast and how reality would not conform to his imagination. My memory is that the section "Place Names - The Place" in the second volume will bring the reality of Balbec will confirm his suspicions of names vs reality.

This seems to be quite profitable to have people reading at different places in "In Search..." Proust's canvas is so large that as the reader crawls across it like a rock climber with a close up perspective. Its nice to holler across to others on the other parts of the canvas and say "Hey, I see some red over here, do you folks see any red where you are?"

Renato wrote: "Have we ever discussed about him being an unreliable narrator?"
Stephan commented some time ago (while reading "The Captive") that he though we were dealing with an unreliable narrator. I was familiar with the term but went and reviewed it. Narrator can be unreliable for various reasons. The one that seemed most suitable for me is the narrator's view is distorted or flawed for some reason. I am a very trusting person and have little empathy for jealousy. So I'm in a weak position to evaluate if the narrator's views are credible as a manifestation of jealousy. As for Albertine, Proust only shows what the Narrator knows of her amid a cloud of suspicions and hear say. I found it extremely frustrating.

For what comfort it is, the last three volumes are significantly shorter that the first four.

Jonathan wrote: "Am I the only one who wonders how Morel's algebra lessons went? :-)"

Lol, I had forgotten that! My guess is he's having trouble understanding the difference between x and y.

Jonathan wrote: "Dave wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "The only bit I really remember disliking in SW was when Swann was getting really obsessive over Odette - that seemed to go on for ages..yawn." Ugh Oh, you may become a..."

Yeah, tell me about it Jonathan. For me the worst of both volumes was the first section. Ironically, I felt the second section of the Captive was the most dramatic in the whole book. And the last section is of interest. The Fugitive was mostly tough for me. Interestingly, The Captive take place over three days 60% on one day. The Fugitive over a couple of years.

Jonathan wrote: "The only bit I really remember disliking in SW was when Swann was getting really obsessive over Odette - that seemed to go on for ages..yawn." Ugh Oh, you may become as frustrated as I was in the next two volumes. Keep the kettle on!