ReemK10 (Paper Pills)’s Comments (group member since Dec 26, 2012)

ReemK10 (Paper Pills)’s comments from the The Year of Reading Proust group.

Kalliope,I forget which site was the one that you wondered if I was subscribed to, but here is an article from the TLS that you and some others may find interesting.

The Goncourt prize 2013 . . . and 1913

http://timescolumns.typepad.com/stoth...

I thought it would be interesting to check out the novel that won the prize a hundred years ago; somebody else must have had the same idea, because it has been reissued in an anniversary edition: Le Peuple de la mer by Marc Elder (not to be confused with the British conductor Mark Elder) is published by Marivole who tell the reader that the book bested Alain-Fournier’s Le Grand Meaulnes (true) and Proust’s Du Côté de chez Swann (not true). Assouline points out that one of the judges, J.-H. Rosny talked about a “livre de grande valeur”, but that it stood no chance as Proust didn’t submit it to the judges.

While I'm at it, this also looks interesting.
http://www.theactuary.com/arts/a-mult...

Marcelita wrote: "Also in Proust Events 2013:

Proust EVENTS: Reading Marathons in NYC and at Yale; William C. Carter at the 92nd St Y; Rewriting Proust at The Center for Fiction; Pinter/Proust in "More to Remember ..."

"His sentences are completely energetic, and you are completely out of breath reading him,” Ms. Kaplan said. “It’s the asthmatic teaching us breath control.”

Reading the comments in the Nov 10 thread of you all discussing Proust's playing with time, a thought occurred to me to research his medications. I found this very long article in a medical journal.“Divine Stramonium”: The Rise and Fall of Smoking for Asthma

Ma chère petite Maman,

‘Misery of miseries or mystery of mysteries?’ That is the title of a chapter in one of Dumas’s novels, which would apply very well to me at the moment. Yesterday after I wrote to you I had an attack of asthma and incessant running at the nose, which obliged me to walk all doubled up and light anti-asthma cigarettes at every tobacconist’s I passed, etc. And what’s worse, I haven’t been able to go to bed till midnight, after endless fumigations, and it’s three or four hours after a real summer attack, an unheard of thing for me.1

Having suffered from periodic attacks of asthma since the age of nine, Proust was familiar with the range of contemporary treatments for the condition: over the years, he had been prescribed opium, caffeine, iodine, and morphine (which had once been injected by his father, Dr Adrien Proust),

I imagine that this would have considerable effect on his writing. (Think Christopher Hitchens on alcohol)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/artic...

Kalliope wrote: The cover using color and b&w really draws attention to the (lovely) gown.

I agree that this is much more effective.

“When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black and white, you photograph their souls!”
― Ted Grant

Perhaps this may be of interest? Don't Trust the Painting
Magritte taught us to distrust the painting. In doing so, he taught us something about the world.

By Morgan Meis

http://www.thesmartset.com/article/ar...

I'll sneak this one in too: Random fact of the day...1 in 10 people in Iceland will publish a book http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24...

Amazon to bookstores: Help us make you irrelevant

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/t...

Elaine wrote: "ReemK10 (Paper Pills) wrote: "I can't even wait to complete reading this and must share it with you now! In 2001, PEN sponsored a Twentieth-Century Masters Tribute to Marcel Proust, excerpts of whi..."

:)

Kalliope wrote: "Hello, I am back home.. wonderful time.. perfect trip... will post more soon...."

Welcome Back Kalliope!

[image error]

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lo5...

50 Incredibly Tough Books for Extreme Readers!!! Have a look!

http://flavorwire.com/423424/50-incre...

I can't even wait to complete reading this and must share it with you now! In 2001, PEN sponsored a Twentieth-Century Masters Tribute to Marcel Proust, excerpts of which were printing in PEN America 2: Home & Away. "Proust Regained" features Roger Shattuck, William C. Carter, André Aciman, Edmund White, Nadine Gordimer, Williams H. Gass, Marilynne Robinson, and Lydia Davis.

http://www.pen.org/nonfiction-essay/p...

I think this is somewhat similar to what Alicen is organizing at the French Embassy.

Very enjoyable!

Was on a Proust search and found this: I imagine Marcelita must have something similar to the Watteau housecoat in her closet!

"What was once chic is now trashy Mme. Swann is a creature of fashion. She is passionately devoted to her aesthetic ideals, even if they are continually changing." ( Eric Karple from Paintings in Proust )



detail of 'The Cousins' by Watteau

""Nowadays it was rarely in Japanese kimonos that Odette received her intimates, but rather in the bright and billowing silk of a Watteau housecoat whose flowering foam she would make as though to rub gently over her bosom, and in which she basked, lolled disported herself with such an air of well-being, of cool freshness, taking such deep breaths, that she seemed to look on these garments not as something decorative, a mere setting for herself, but as necessary, in the same ways as her 'tub' or her daily 'constitutional,' to satisfy the requirements of her physiognomy and the niceties of hygiene. "


Source:http://littleaugury.blogspot.com/2011...


@Phillida, so glad you agree with me! :)

Jocelyne wrote: "My computer is currently on the fritz but I wanted to quickly steal some good soul's computer to post this link.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/S...


"We are used to the idea that music and (to an extent) literature can have a therapeutic effect on us."

To an extent?! This must be the understatement of the year. Is it me or does Alain De Botton (in this article) make it sound like Art as Therapy for dummies?

Kalliope wrote: "I will be visiting more Carpaccio today.

Yesterday I was at the Biennale and Proustian issues such as the role of the artist were discussed."

Sounds like you're busy absorbing Venice. For those of you who would like to get a glimpse of the Biennale exhibit:

http://www.labiennale.org/en/art/exhi...

New blog post:there is something about parroting the proustian syntax that helps loosen my tongue...

http://frenchculture.org/books/blog/s...

Marcelita wrote: "Proustitute wrote: "nunya wrote: "Is this group going to start over in 2014? I want to start proust then."

"..we'll label them Week 1, Week 2, and so on. That way this board can help people read P..."

Poor Proust that he could not live to see the world reading him 100 years later.

Read Davis if you want to read for pleasure. Read Carter if you want to read for understanding.

Eugene wrote: "Realizing Proust is ill and nearing the end of his life I must read this section aphoristically.

I do like that Eugene! You may like reading Selections From Proust
- edited by L. James Hammond
I found it just the other day.

http://www.ljhammond.com/proust.htm

Why mess with perfection? Reading the Lydia Davis translation was absolute bliss!

Proustitute wrote:

Never was the plan: anyone can add to the threads in the future. People this year can choose to keep notifications for threads on, join in for future year-long reads of Proust, or else disable them and leave the board to a brand-new group. Lots of options, but I think having the space for newcomers to discuss as they read is a crucial part to a place like this.

No kidding? We had no idea. We've been anxious as we approach this year's reading coming to its end thinking that the threads would be closed to further comment. Some even voiced having it continue into January in case we hadn't finished reading the last volume in time with the schedule. This is fabulous news! We would be free to go back and reread whenever we choose and still be able to join in some discussion! Perhaps we can go on to some supplementary read and have the discussion continue there.

Good to know. It may very well become the decade of reading Proust!!!!

I know Francoise is a favorite of many people around here, but the woman that I find rather fascinating is the good Duchess. As I read the way that she is depicted by Proust, I try to make sense of why he wants to present her in this manner. Why is she so callous in the way she treats people? I don't see Proust resorting to common stereotype, so why does she act this way? Why does she refuse to see Swann's daughter and then as if on a whim she decides she'll see her afterall? I guess I'll have to read on!

" We knew him very well, I remember him very well."
(As indeed she might, seeing that he had come to see her almost every day for twenty-five years.")(MKE 783,784)

Signed,

perplexed by Proust and the psychology of this

Book Portrait wrote:
As apology, a little offering:

I'll accept your offering and offer one myself.


[image error]
Dressing gown, ca. 1930
Mariano Fortuny (Italian, born Spain, 1871–1949)
Stenciled rose silk

Very cool fact: With slashed sleeves extending far beyond the length of the arm like a mandarin's robes, Fortuny's wraps, capes, and gowns are in the realm of high fantasy. Primary sign or reference—or what seems to be specific location—is established by the stenciling that suggests the kufic and corded embroideries of North African djellabahs.

My offering must not be sincere, image wouldn't post:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-o...

Kalliope wrote: "Yes, in Venice and saw a book on Peggy Guggenheim with her on the cover wearing a Fortuny gown."

Nice Kalli, enjoy yourself and have a great time! Take photos for us!

Elaine wrote: "ReemK10 (Paper Pills) wrote: "nunya wrote: "Is this group going to start over in 2014? I want to start proust then."

Hello Nunya. As far as I knnow the threads were supposed to be closed to new co..."

@Elaine Hello Elaine!! I've designated myself sous-host until Kalliope gets back by providing you with this info. I hope it's correct.

@French Books USA, thanks for the info!I'll retweet your tweets!