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

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

Came to post this:

"The writer's reputation isn't on the line with every book. But a translator's reputation can be destroyed by one book. It can call into question his ability to deal with the text."—Howard Goldblatt

So true.

Nick wrote: "Not only did I meet Marcelita, who is dazzlingly glamourous, and so great to talk to and so very knowledgeable on our favourite Frenchman, I also met Mr James..."

So glad that you and Marcelita had a fabulous time together, and that you described Marcelita like you did!!

Jeremy cover your eyes. For those interested: Just saw this on twitter: Amazon Buys Goodreads to Bolster Its Advice Portfolio

http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsB...

Karen wrote: "In Victorian England the etiquette for young women receiving visitors in their home was to greet new acquaintances by holding out their right arm with two fingers extended, while closer family frie..."

That is fascinating! I suppose only offering two fingers is akin to barely touching and therefore less direct and intimate. Depending on who is extending those two fingers, it can be arrogant or respectful.

Kalliope wrote: "Kalliope wrote: "Dear Proustians, I have just come back from a wonderful concert with Olga Kern and Vladimir Spivakov playing, amongst other pieces, César Franck's Violin Sonata in A Major.

I thou..."

That was really interstinng. I always enjoy reading people's answers to the Proust questionnaire. He says," No, I work, when I am in a sealed off space – particular kinds of thoughts come through my head. " ----sounds like Proust's cork-lined room.

Eugene wrote: "I like reading Proust because he believes that art necessarily has beauty in it; today that isn't so, ever since Duchamp's Fountain (1917) or Warhol's Brillo Boxes (1964) or whatever timeline you w..."

I remember reading the words .."we desire, we seek, we see Beauty."

Marcelita, Marcelita, Marcelita, every time I do any type of google search regarding Proust ( I was just looking for photos of la Rivebelle) I come across your pinterest and see that you've amassed an amazing amount of photographs. Have you ever considered turning your collection into a coffee table book? You really ought to do so!

I thought I'd look up Rivebelle and found this:

Dinners at Rivebelle: A Study in Proust's Search for the “Moi Profond” Modern Language Quarterly September 1963 24(3): 263-273; http://mlq.dukejournals.org/content/2...
There must be some major importance to eating dinner there.


While googling I also came across a mention of Mme de Sevigne's letters making mention that the love she had for her daughter "mirrors the same love that M.’s grandmother has for her daughter, his mother." ( not going to quote as there are spoilers.)

For those of you who haven't seen this before:

The Thrill of Proust’s Handwriting: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs...

“This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals–sounds that say listen to this, it is important.”

― Gary Provost

Kalliope wrote: Reem, you are going to become an expert in Mme de Sévigné...!!! wonderful..

lol Kalliope, that would be lovely!
It's really heartbreaking reading the mother's letters to her daughter and not knowing how the daughter responds to them. I'm just fascinated by these private letters that have become such public fodder. Thanks for suggesting them!!

Martin wrote: "Joined this group a bit late. I have always put Proust to the side, fearing it would be more like Joyce, whom I tried to read a few times and always have given up. Now I have started reading a rela..."

Nice to have you join us Martin. Try to catch up so you can read along with us.

Marcelita wrote: "ReemK10 (Got Proust?) wrote: "Look what I found: (Reem singing Ta Da!!)

http://archive.org/details/selections...

The letters of Madame de Sevigne to her daughter and friends (1869)
..."

Isn't it wonderful? I'm reading and marvelling at how smoothly it flows. I tried to find out who the translator was, and it seems a Miss Preston and/ or mostly the editor( editress) Mrs. Hale (S.J.H) was involved. A great translation!

The letters are really quite delightful!! :)

Cheryl wrote: "I am behind the schedule in my reading...and have not read the weekly message threads so forgive me if I am asking something that has already been discussed.

Last night I read about the grapes, p..."

I went on a search for the color ultramarine, and found this:

"There, the colour was referred to as 'ultramarine', which means something like 'from beyond the sea'."

This was in reference to the gemstone Lapis Lazuli which in the photo here is very blue, but I believe I've seen lapis lazuli stones that were more greenish in color.

http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?opt...

Proustitute wrote: "ReemK, we could set the group to private so that only members can see the posts. But then this is a pain for all moderators as we need to approve each request to join the group. While we have a ver..."

It's okay Proustitute. I agree that these threads should be made public to help people around the world navigate their way through Proust with a little help from all the valuable info provided in these threads. It's just good to know that this a public forum.

@Eugene, so glad that you and Nick got to meet!!

Look what I found: (Reem singing Ta Da!!)

http://archive.org/details/selections...

The letters of Madame de Sevigne to her daughter and friends (1869)

You can download, read in pdf, kindle etc.

I don't think there should be any problem with posting this as I found it on the University of California Digital Library website.

Does anyone know how to set Goodreads settings so that comments we make in the threads can't be accessed through a simple google search, or are all Goodreads discussions public? We were worried about Amazon having access... lol

Fionnuala wrote: "Proustitute wrote: "don't see a link, so here it is in case anyone wants to read the full piece: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk... .."
Thanks to Reem for drawing our attention to that articl..."

It's not often that I share quotes with people, so I'm not in the habit of citing them. My notebooks are full of sentences I've jotted down that I haven't the foggiest idea where I copied them from. With so many copyright issues on the web, everything needs to be not only acknowledged but cited as well. Duly noted.

Jocelyne wrote: "ReemK10 (Got Proust?) wrote: "As readers did you already know that there really was a Mme de Sevigne who was known for her letter writing and literary salon? I certainly didn't.


"Women were the h..."

I'll have to see if I can find an English translation of these letters to read. I'm so intrigued now!

Jocelyne wrote: