I want to punch the protagonist in the face.

[Alex]

I GET that this is an important work, and I do enjoy parts of Proust's work, but the narrator is such a controlling, abusive fuckhead to Albertine that I have to put the book down and go do something else every once in a while. I ALSO understand that the character is wrought in such a way to probably cover up Proust's own proclivities or whatever, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to dropkick him down some stairs.