Swann's Way - No Spoiler

[Brian E]

victoria wrote: "Anyone already thinking on reading the full seven books this year?.."

Yes, I'm 2/3 of the way through The Swann Way and plan to start the second novel sometime afterwards. I'm not committing to the whole series, though, to give myself an out. It is long and I don't know how I'll feel by the 4th 600+ page book.
Some editions have it as a 6 book rather than 7 book series combining the 5th and 6th books into one volume. The Modern Library edition is one: The Captive / The Fugitive . The 6 book series

A 6 book series does seem more typical, symmetrical and traditional, as with Anthony Trollope's The Palliser Novels & Chronicles of Barsetshire
But then I also own the 7 book series of C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia

[J_BlueFlower]

victoria wrote: "Anyone already thinking on reading the full seven books this year?"

A little bit .... I rather read Don Quixote with the group. But I am definitely tempted to pick up the next volume as well.

[Brian E]

J_BlueFlower wrote: "victoria wrote: "Anyone already thinking on reading the full seven books this year?"

A little bit .... I rather read Don Quixote with the group. But I am definitely tempted to pick up ..."

I had really wanted to read Don Quixote too after some of us talked about it in a thread here at the end of last year. I went and bought a copy after discussing the translations.

But the read came up surprisingly quick - too quickly for me to try to fit it in so soon. I feel like I had insufficient time to plan for a 1000 page read. I had been hoping it would become the 3-month read when it would become re-eligible for that format, which I had calculated would be in the 2nd half of this year. But 30+ other members were more anxious and adaptable than I was.

I'm choosing to possibly continue on with In Search of Lost Time because 1) it was in my back-of-the-mind reserve plan to continue on with the series if the first book was a decent read; 2) if I read a volume every 2 months that means I just need to squeeze in a more manageable additional 300 -350 or so pages a month 3) the idea of finishing the "Lost Time" series in one calendar year rather than over a longer period appeals to the anal in me. Then I may 'squeeze 'Don' in during the 2nd half of the year.

But I completely understand instead choosing the option to read 'Don' first and then possibly picking up the second of 'Lost Time' when you 'Find Time.'

[Kathleen]

Here's an interesting article: "Six Writers on the Genius of Marcel Proust: https://lithub.com/six-writers-on-the...

From Siri Hustvedt:
The slow accumulation of sensual details, associations, elaborate metaphors, and meandering stories inevitably creates an illusion that I have entered the borderless movements of the narrator’s singular consciousness, that by following the drift of another person’s thoughts over time, that is, page after page, I have illuminated my own mnemonic processes and felt realities. This is, I think, the strange magic of reading Proust.

[J_BlueFlower]

Brian E wrote: " I had been hoping it would become the 3-month ..."

Notice that it is a 2-month read. I guess most people will take more than 1 month. And some also more than 2. I tend to follow the discussion at 1-2 month after I finishe.

[Brian E]

J_BlueFlower wrote: "Notice that it is a 2-month read. I guess most people will take more than 1 month. And some also more than 2. I tend to follow t..."

Thanks. Two months is easier to squeeze in than a month long read. But unfortunately the 2 month read is still in the early part of 2024 where I had a lot already planned including GR Reading Group reads of 3 books each by Rumer Godden, Henry Greene and Patrick Hamilton and a self-guided one of Olivia Manning. And now Proust gets priority not only because the first Proust was earlier scheduled, but I have for months had a back-of-the-mind plan to read the entire Proust series in 2024 after not finding the time to join in the year long 2023 Proust read in the Never to Late to Read Classics group that I also belong to. My desire to read DQ was only really ignited during the more recent discussion in this group.

I'll get to DQ either later in 2024 or 2025, possibly looking to see if any other GR groups will read it. My lack of anxiousness to squeeze DQ into my schedule may be because I'm planning to read it more to enhance my knowledge of classic fiction than because I expect it to be a wonderfully enjoyable reading experience. It is also likely influenced by the fact that I am enjoying The Swann Way more than I anticipated.

[Heather L]

Brian E wrote: "J_BlueFlower wrote: "victoria wrote: "Anyone already thinking on reading the full seven books this year?"

A little bit .... I rather read Don Quixote with the group. But I am definitel..."

I also wanted to read DQ, but like you NOT at the same time as another 600 page book. Had it come up this summer I would have tried to fit it in, but I just can’t do it now. Though I finished the first week of January ahead of where I needed to be in SW, I am now behind. I hoped to catch up on my day off Monday but was laid low with a migraine. Will have to make up ground this coming weekend. 🫤

[J_BlueFlower]

Brian E wrote: "I'll get to DQ either later in 2024 or 2025..."

How can you plan this far into the future? Just today a few hours ago Kongeord by our new King Frederik 10. came out. Any plans I had yesterday about my reading tomorrow....

[Brian E]

J_BlueFlower wrote: "How can you plan this far into the future? ."

I've been graced with prescient powers. It can be a curse at times.

Seriously, I have books already marked on my calendar for every month of 2024 . I have multiple books marked for every 2024 month until June. As I already have a planned read of the 800 page Italian classic Lies and Sorcery by Elsa Morante for a Never to Late to Read Classic group readin July, through September, I would be preferring to read a Chunkster like DQ after rather than during that, if possible. That makes October to December 2024 preferable and I added in 2025to give myself flexibility.
I have nothing listed yet as a planned 2025 read but then I don't yet own a 2025 calendar. And I keep my calendar as I prefer my books, in a hard paper copy.