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.

I've read comments before of readers who believed that being older helped them understand it while acknowledging they had tried and failed earlier. I place my self in this group.

Reactions I have encountered.
- Most frequent "What is Proust?"
- "Who is Proust?"
- "What is it about?" (I have less than 60 seconds before they change the subject)
- Ugh! (Look of having tasted something sour)
- Roll of eyes (I interpret this as judgement that I am an elitist - I've been an elitist since I was 15, it has nothing to do with Proust)
- The sentences are too long! (I read The Fault in Our Stars a while back. There was a sentence on the second page that was 109 words long)
- The book is too long (How long are all the Harry Potter Books combined? Various Vampire series? All Robert Ludlum's novels?)
- I read Swann's Way (or part of Swann's Way) so I got a feel for Proust.

This topic is for relating anecdotes or reactions when people learn you are reading or have read Proust.

Sunny in Wonderland wrote: "Just finished... that ending certainly felt like an autobiography. Mirrored a lot of what you all have posted about Marcel's life and the process of writing his book."

CONGRATULATIONS!

Marcelita wrote: "How many actually finish? A fraction.
Consider Goodreads as an example...populated with curious, wide-ranging, and self-described "Readers."

Last year, GoodReads' 2013: The Year of Reading Prous..."

I think our group started with 95. I started late as did a few others. But I don't think we have but maybe 10 left.

I love your phrase "you have to read your way in. That is sooo true!

I also like that you set the "cousinship" bar high! I don't want there to be too big a crowd at your house when I come for sleepover when the Proust Society of America has meetings!

Sunny wrote "One of many discussion points is how perspectives and opinions change over time. My perspective has certainly changed over Time". That is an excellent topic to discuss! As you may have seen in other posts, I really hope that when everyone finishes Time Regained, they let their impressions season a couple of days and then go back and read the first 10 or so pages of Swann's Way. That was where my perspective was radically altered.

This is very interesting Marcelita. Does she read at the same location or does she move around. Is there a schedule of where, when and what she is reading? We are planning a trip next Fall to Southwest France, but I would make a detour to see her read.

I hope you are going to let us know your impression of the ending Sunny. Its been a pleasure being in the group with you. I don't know the percentage of readers who read Proust, or the percentage of readers who, having started actually finish (Marcelita, any thoughts?) but I imagine we are a few, a precious few, a band of brothers and sisters. Congratulation on one of the greatest possible reading achievements of a lifetime!

Sunny your last line summoned an involuntary movie memory from Ghostbusters. The image of Sigorney Weaver floating above her bed while Bill Murray questions her. Possessed by the Spirit of Marcel she growls THERE IS NO FUTURE, ONLY PAST!

You are being kind Renato - It was 40 years ago.

Your story is special Marcelita, you grew up and became Queen of Proustland!

I can Google Proust reading group San Antonio from now 'til the cows come home and will get nothing but "NOT FOUND."

I'm looking forward to visiting my Grandson (4) at Christmas. He will enjoy my bedtime story that begins "For a longtime I used to go to to bed early...." Who will go to bed early grandpa? Let's wait and see. ;) Won't he be pleased when he finds out we will still be reading the same story when he is in Graduate School!

Oh, and i should mention it has been on my bucket list since I first bought it. Not reading bucket list but life bucket list. I visited Proust's grave twice (1982 &1995) long before I got through the book.

I'm thinking of revising the lyrics to the American Hymn "What a Friend we have in Jesus" to "What a friend we have in Marcel" and setting up a Revival tent in Downtown San Antonio.

I bought ISOLT in college (Austin) in the Spring of 1973 as a multivolume paperback set. I saw it in the bookstore,read the back cover and bought it. (I read a lot of literature back then) I got about 20 pages into it and set it aside. At least 2 other times I remember trying to read it and never getting any further than I had the last time. Last Spring, after discovering that I could read difficult books if I simultaneously listened to the Audiobook, I started again and finished. Now I find I'm very comfortable with Proust's style and find it easy to read.

Thanks for starting this thread Sunny.

Who can say? Do you already have someone in your life named Francoise/Celeste?

Ugh, before you run through the streets Renato, please give us the address of the Sanitarium you are most likely to be taken to. lol

In my experience, you really don't have to run through the streets. Just mention you read Proust and folks will nervously start looking for a straight jacket.

Renato wrote: "So we finally found out the condition the narrator found Charlus in the afternoon party at the Princess de Guermantes. I felt really sad reading their encounter... it was, for me, one of the saddes..."

Having had grandparents who faded into senility, I too was saddened to see Charlus reduced to such a state. At the same time I was amused that Charlus still was chasing after young boys and Jupien was still trying to keep him corraled!

But the person that I was focused on in this scene was Jupien. I reflected that he had been loyal to Charlus since early in the book when we heard him calling Charlus by terms of endearment. Too me this demonstrated Jupien's love of Charlus (perhaps unrequited).

Enjoy Renato!

Congratulations! Now we are all set to discuss it!

Lol, your on the last Volume of Proust and you think ANYTHING can be known for sure Renato?

I calculate the Narrator is about ten years younger than Proust on the calendar as the text has given us clues. But the story is narrated in the past tense. Where in the future is he speaking from? You really can't guess until the end.