Mike’s Comments (group member since Oct 28, 2021)

Mike’s comments from the Never too Late to Read Classics group.

I'm hoping to finish The Guermantes Way by the end of the week, only 60ish pages left. I'm looking forward to reading this, and it sounds like I'm in for a treat - I could sure use a laugh!

The Princess Bride is one of the most quotable movies I've ever seen. “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” The narrative structure of the movie has a grandfather reading the good bits to his bed ridden grandson but I hadn't realised the film was actually based on a book. I'll have to join this read!

We have a year long group read that several of us are participating in.

I'm nearing the end (~100 pages) of The Guermantes Way and it's my favourite so far. It feels like the pace has picked up a little bit but I also wonder if I'm finding it easier to read as I've gotten used to Proust's prose.

I have Paintings in Proust: A Visual Companion to In Search of Lost Time to hand to see the many paintings Proust refers too. Proust was clearly a very observant man and it's remarkable how much he can relay in his work without losing the readers interest.

I received a box set of the 5 volumes of the Hitchhiker's trilogy for Christmas a couple of years ago, it'll make it's way to the top of the TBR before too long, and I'm very much looking forward to reading it.

Good luck in your studies Samantha! We have a couple of starters and several returners. My eldest starts university at the end of September and my second youngest starts school. The three in between them are all returners, some more excited then others. I think the poor baby is going to be awfully lonely once they're all gone!

Your first three favourites are three of mine and I'm currently reading Remembrance of Things Past. I've been meaning to read Hitchhiker's Guide for years...

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie


252 pages

Total to date: 383,653

Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: "I finished my novel, my third, last night, and just have to polish it again now. I do two polishes.

One of my short stories has made the shortlist at one literary magazine, and I'm waiting for the..."

Awesome, I hope you succeed in getting published soon!

John wrote: "Congratulations to her - it's always very stressful at results time! Where has she chosen?"

She's heading to Edge Hill University which is north of Liverpool, and a good few hours drive north for us. Her grandmother took her out shopping today to get things she'll need in her accommodation.

Thanks all for the good wishes, I have relayed them to her delight.

My eldest got her exam results today and she achieved what she needed to secure her first choice university. Appropriately for this group, she'll be studying English Literature!

I just finished Part I of The Guermantes Way having not had much time to read since I was last ill. The pace has picked up and noticeably more dialogue. I do think there is a double entendre with the title, as I believe it alludes both to the path the narrator used to walk along as well as to the way of life of the whole Guermantes family.

It's in my AND list but I don't have the bandwidth to read it. I look forward to following the thoughts of the group in anticipation of my eventual read.

This is a book I've been meaning to read for years. I think I'll take a break from Proust after I finish volume 3 to read this.

Kevin wrote: "Hi everyone, do Penguin Modern Classics have notes and introductions like regular Penguin Classics?"

I have around 40 Modern Classics and most, but not all, have introductions. A sampling of six from my case finds that The Guermantes Way, The Chrysalids, Of Mice and Men and Nausea do but Death of a Salesman and Chernobyl Prayer: Voices from Chernobyl do not. So 2/3rds have introductions based on my not particularly scientific experiment!

In Search of Lost Time, Volume 1: The Way by Swann's by Marcel Proust


489 pages

In Search of Lost Time, Volume 2: In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower by Marcel Proust


554 pages

Group total: 197 324

I'm home and finished volume 2, planning to start volume 3 later today. I've written my reviews of The Way by Swann's and In the Shadow of Young Girls in Bloom.

Thanks John, a little over a hundred pages left. I'll have to get someone to bring me volume three.

I finally finished The Way by Swann's on Tuesday and I'm already half way through In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower. I've been holed up in hospital the last couple of weeks so will write my review once I'm home. Quick version, enjoyed the prose but found A Love of Swann's a bit long and somewhat repetitive.

Thanks for all the lovely messages!

Cleo wrote: "Woo hoo!! Congratulations!! 🎉 What a unique talent to manage a 50-50 split in sexes. All the best to you and your family!!"

My eldest so, second-born, is pleased that at long last us boys are no longer outnumbered. The girls have lost veto and negotiations have begun.

Lesle wrote: "What wonderful news! Congratulations to the family. Nothing as special as a new addition to the family. His brothers and sisters have to be excited as well!"

They have something new to squabble over - who gets the next cuddle!

John wrote: "Congratulations Mike, but listen...you need to spend more time reading!!!!"

Yes John, if I had spent more time reading, I'd have more time to read!

Today we welcomed our sixth child, a third son, to the world! Both mom & baby are doing OK and it's safe to say my already behind reading schedule will be taking further knocks, but it's worth it.

Congratulations Rosemarie & John on your long marriages! We're nearing 22 years, so I'm not in the running.