Jonathan’s Comments (group member since Oct 24, 2013)

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

In the second paragraph of 'Swann in Love' Proust says of the pianist's aunt that she 'looked as though she had, at one period, "answered the door" '. Does anyone know what this means? I though it meant that she looked as if she was, or had been, a servant or lower class, but I'm really not sure...

Marcelita wrote: "Re-reading this passage, I learned something.

In Carter's new, annotated "Swann's Way," he elaborated....on where Proust places the moon.

"Sometimes, as he looked up from his victoria on those ..."

And how are you finding Carter's version Marcelita?

Wouldn't 'physical love without desire' be 'just going through the motions' as far as sex is concerned? Examples: a bored married couple, a prostitute, a highly sexed individual who is not fussy about who they have sex with.

Aleks wrote: "The narrative on pages 323 through 328 - and especially the quote at the bottom of 326 (Among all the modes by which love...) to the middle of 327 (agonising need to possess exclusively) - reminds ..."

That's a great quote. I marked it off on my kindle as well.

How did others find this week's reading? I really enjoyed it: what with Swann realising that he actually loves Odette and the politics and bickering that's unfolding within the Verdurin's little group. The little clique reminds me of the bitching and fighting that goes on everyday at work...it's entertaining until you get mixed up in it. :-)

I've just been re-reading bits from last week's read and really liked this quote (p.197 of Vintage ed. but approx. 233 in ML ed.) concerning Mlle Vinteuil:

It was not evil that gave her the idea of pleasure, that seemed to her attractive; it was pleasure, rather, that seemed evil.

I find myself re-reading quite a bit of the previous week's section before embarking on the new material. I didn't think I'd like reading 60 pages or so each week but it's working out really well. How are others finding the schedule?

I tend to read each week's material at the weekend and in a single 'hit' or in two blocks.

It was a slightly strange section this week - the end of Part One and the beginning of Part Two especially as it switches time and place...Part Two is now a memory of someone else's recollections of Swann, I think...brilliantly convoluted. Sometimes this twisting and turning through time, space, memories and recollections is annoying but on the whole I'm enjoying it.

Whilst reading the first section I was starting to hope there was a companion book, 'Botany in Proust' but instead had to resort to googling the different flowers. I'm always a bit embarrassed not to know the names of trees & flowers...

My favourite quote in this week's read was:

Her [Odette's] eyes were beautiful, but so large they seemed to droop beneath their own weight, strained the rest of her face and always made her appear unwell or in a bad mood.

It's interesting to see Vinteuil make an appearance (via his music) in Part Two. In Part One he came across as a puritanical oddball who tinkered about with music but in Part Two we realise that he's a serious composer.

You certainly seem to be enjoying Proust, Dwayne. I haven't read/seen much Cocteau - only Les Enfants Terribles years ago.

midnightfaerie wrote: "Okay, so this part that you like Jonathan, with M. Legrandin annoyed me so much. "

Was it the character of M. Legrandin that annoyed you? I must admit that if I met the character in real life (and I meet people like that quite often) then they would probably just annoy me. But reading about such a character was quite amusing, but then I like reading about disagreeable, repellent or unlikeable characters, it's somehow cathartic.

Louann wrote: "The walks described in this section make me think of the film version of Pagnol's My Mother's Castle, not necessarily in intention of the characters but in visual interest...."

That's an excellent observation Louann; My Mother's Castle is a brilliant film and, from what I can remember, and as you mentioned, very similar to the 'walks' section. Now you've mentioned it I'm itching to watch it again - together with My Father's Glory of course. I've never read Pagnol, though; just watched the films.

I guess that the period of the Pagnol work is a generation after Proust as Proust was born in 1871 and Pagnol in 1895. Pagnol grew up in the south of France whilst Combray was based on Illiers (now Illiers-Combray) in the north of France - so I guess the terrain was quite different.

Hi Dwayne & Louann. Welcome to the group.

I think it's a good idea reading Proust over a year as it allows us 'breathing room' between sections. I've got a bit of a love/hate relationship with the long, convoluted sentences - but I'm coping!

I loved the early material for this week's read, especially learning more about Leonie, Françoise, the Curé & Eulalie where we discover just how possessive Françoise is over Leonie. Also, the complications that ensue from having an early lunch on Saturday.

One of my favourite scenes was when M. Legrandin is asked by the narrator's father if he knows anyone in Balbec and he just rambles on pretentiously, avoiding answering the question.

Another, was of the narrator rushing off to declare his love to the hawthorns when they have to leave Combray early. He's totally distraught. I must be strange as I never wept over a flower as a child. :-)

I must admit I started to lose track near the end so I'll probably re-read some of it during the week or next weekend.

How did others find this week's read?

I can see the Bergman/Wild Strawberries link, Alia. The first week's reading made me think of Bergman's 'Fanny and Alexander' - I'd love to watch it again.

Martin wrote: "Jonathan, this comment struck me as well, because we have all known folks who bask in their misery; they brag of their ailments and like nothing more that we "approve" and commiserate with them. "

No problem, Martin...lurk away...

His aunt seems content to let her life become more and more restricted, possibly so that she can retain some control over her life, with whatever's left. I also found fascinating the way that she had such an enormous interest in the events in Combray...again, it seems like a control thing. Either way, Proust portrays her with compassion and humour.

I'm looking forward to reading this week's Proust. I tend to read it at the weekend as I prefer to read it in large chunks. I'll keep my eyes peeled for the quote Gloria.

Marcelita wrote: "You can listen to some of the early short stories, in French.
http://www.litteratureaudio.com/livre...

English translation:
http://translate.google.com/translate... "

Merci Marcelita. Malheureusement, je ne comprends pas français. At least no more than that.

Have you read them? Is the style similar to ISOLT? or markedly different?

I was aware that there were some short stories by Proust and so after a look around I found The Complete Short Stories of Marcel Proust. It looks like the bulk of the stories were published in 1896 when Proust was 25. I'm in two minds whether to buy it (it's not available from my library unfortunately); has anyone read it?

re: the narrator's aunt's criteria for guests from page 82:

In short, my aunt demanded that whoever came to see her must at one and the same time approve of her way of life, commiserate with her in her sufferings, and assure her of ultimate recovery.

Larry wrote: "Regarding Adolph and the Lady in Pink, the passage that I enjoyed in particular was when the young narrator was unable to stifle his desire to tell his parents of the encounter. The way it was word..."

Nice quote Larry. I find the need to unburden oneself is something I notice more in others than myself. I have no trouble keeping silent whilst others yak on.

There's a lot of humour in the book so far. I especially like the narrator's aunt and all her foibles: talking to herself, not admitting to sleeping, not leaving her bed, watching the events of Combray through her window and sending others to find out more and best of all, her strict criteria for accepting guests.

Alia wrote: "He never mentions what age he was at the beginning, but I had in my head that he was 10 or younger."

The Alphonse/Adolphe confusion was my fault - I didn't look at my copy before posting. I'm afraid my memory isn't as good as Proust's...

I guessed that he was about 10 as well.

Alia wrote: "I think that Proust had an ability to see and feel what is indeed often imperceptible to many, because we are too busy to notice little things going on around us. If you think about it, lots of people, including myself are closed off to the profundity of life's potential. Thoughts? "

I think that for most of us fragments of profundity bubble up every now and then but quickly disappear. Where Proust (and others) excel is in their analysis of such thoughts and experiences...I don't think I could even begin to do what Proust does.

My favourite part of this week's read was the character study of the narrator's aunt and her relationship with the rest of the family and servants, in particular Françoise. Oh, and the episode with the narrator's uncle Alphonse.

What did others like/dislike about this week's reading?