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Proust is far from pretentious, but not one for anyone without patience
| Customer Rating:  | | I haven't read the version of this particular publisher, but if it is the Moncrieff and Kilmartin translation then I find it rather ponderous what some of the poor reviews are about. This novel is the very definition of literary genius, I'm not sure if it matches up to my favourite novelist Dostoevski, but I did often feel unfaithful to him; while very different in style, Proust is every bit as philosophically and psychologically subtle as the great russian master; and like other writers I enjoy he seems to weave these insights sumptuosly and seemlessly into the narrative. From Bergson's theory of memory and the 'elen vital' to Shopenhauer's metaphysical pessismism as well as arts redemptive role in our endless striving to continue to live and love which can ultimately be reduced to vain suffering, to a ruthless and humourous social critique of the petit bourgeoisie, and an insight into the nature of love and jealousy, which can only be rivalled by Shakespeares Othello, plus a host of ideas and comic portrayals that are trully original and Proustian this novel is trully flawless. A great addition to the tradition of French novels exploration of sexuality on the fringe, investigating themes such as child sexuality, homosexuality etc with the boldness of Battaille or Sacher-Masoch and the psychological penetration of Freud. Now as I mentioned I have not read this particular version, but I do relate to some of the reviews, often I have come across translations that make books like War and Peace, which one requires alot of patience for rather opaque and then rediscovered the novel in a different translation which makes it infinitely more pleasurable. As for Proust himself and his narrative as well as insights, I can assure you he's not at fault. try everymans Library version, its trully a masterpiece of translation in and of itself. after you've read that you will appreciate any translation of Proust. |
A Surat (painting) in the literary sense
| Customer Rating:  | It has taken approximately three months just to read through the first novel of this great and august work, which I suppose goes to show how much time and effort Proust put into writing this.
It is a very time-consuming plot. In the first instance he tends to go on at length about how he is waiting at the top of the stairs for his mother to come and kiss him goodnight and then deviates at length in a painterly and studious way around how he evokes the environs of Combray. This departure seems to extend into a little novella all of its own, before you arrive finally at the reason the book was entitled as it was, i.e. Swann's pursuit and on-off love affair with Odette. You wend your way via endless luncheons and dinner parties at the Verdurins and glimpsing Odette's other flings as a courtesan with various Comtes and Ducs (sic)particularly Fourcheville, who is Swann's main rival.
But all in all, this is a creative tour de force, is superbly written, as is evident by the number of drafts Proust went through before its final completion and is well worth three months of anyone's time in terms of a good bedtime read. I just hope Volume II will not be as time consuming. I think the phrase "just hang in there!" is appropriate as there are better things to come from this delightful range of novels.
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Easy - why didn't someone tell me?
| Customer Rating: | For thirty years, I thought Proust was too 'difficult' for the ordinary reader. I gained that impression, I suppose, from hearing 'clever' people talk about him.
Rubbish. This is great stuff, and very approachable. And it's well worth the effort: the narrative style and the examination of the writer's inner life are unlike anything else. I wish I'd read it years ago.
One proviso: this is NOT fast-moving...! It's best read, in my view, when you have a long stretch of time to devote to it: I couldn't pick it up and put it down as a bedside book. So it makes a great holiday read - perhaps for that rainy week in Deauville?! |
This Internal Dialogue of Stalled Thinking Is Irresistible
| Customer Rating: | | All of us have self-talk, which is quite different from the way we converse with each other or write. Proust has captured self-talk in a delightful display of stream-of-consciousness writing that is unequaled in literature. You will find yourself remembering many of the same thoughts in your own self-talk. By focusing inward, Proust succeeds in portraying much of what is universal about all of humanity. Unlike Joyce, who employed the same technique, Proust is easy and delightful to follow. You will sense beauty in thought that will make you glad to be alive. It will also stimulate you to notice more about the world around you and your reactions to it. Do be aware that an internally-focused book does not have a lot of action and drama in it. On the other hand, neither does most of life. I think Proust has captured the essence of human life in a very valuable way. But if you like Dirk Pitt novels and little else, you would do well to avoid Swann's Way. The main drawback of self-talk is that we often build hurdles where there are none. We often talk ourselves out of things that we should pursue. As a result, our thinking stalls our ability to act. You will find lots of delicious examples of this in the hypochondria explored in this book. Although this book is rarely assigned in literature classes, almost everyone would benefit from reading it. You can best use it as a mirror to see yourself better. That should make for a tasty dish that is irresistible once tasted. Bon appetit! |
A book of two halves
| Customer Rating: | This book was recommended to me at a time that I was exploring alot of French literature. Previously I had been put off by both the length of the book and the lack of subject matter. Despite initial misgivings, I soon got into the idiom of the book and the first half of this tome where the narrator recounts his childhood in a sleepy, French town. This is almost as good as parts of "David Copperfield" or "Great Expectations" in the way that it depicts a child's perception of the adult world. Some of the writing is very funny and Proust's perceptive writing, particualarly when describing the walks through the countryside, is extremely beautiful. The first half of the book deservedly merits five stars and demonstrates why Proust enjoys such a great reputation.
Unfortunately, the second half of this volume concerns the unfortunate Mr. Swann and his affair with a woman who is clearly cruelly leading him on. This is nothing more than high class "Chick lit" and was probably one of the most boring and turgid things that I have ever read. (Almost as bad as T.E. Lawrence's "Seven pillars of wisdom", another book that I would never recommend and should be immediately flushed down the toilet.) It is clear to the reader from mid-way through this account that she was a courtesan and Mr. Swann should have wised up. This would have saved a few hundred pages!! Nil points for this section then.
To summarise, this is truly a book of two halves. If you want to read to well written French novel try Alain-Fournier's "Le grand Meulnes" that is a fraction of the volume, just a well written and has a multi-layered plot that will keep you wanting to turn the page. As to the other reviewer's comments that Proust is better that Shakespeare or Dickens, I would simply add that aleast they both knew how to write a plot !! Proust has a reputation as the greatest novelist of the 20th Century, but nothing in this book would lead me to rate him above Joseph Conrad, Karen Blixen or George Orwell.
Definately one for the girls - although not the type of girls that I would like to go out with !! File under "B" for boring. |
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