Whoop with a capital ‘W’ because look what the wind-beaten delivery driver dropped off today! That means my journey into Proust can now begin in earnest, although there has been a slight change to the plans (hehe….I’m so fickle! 
)).
As fate would have it, on the same weekend of the week I experienced my Proust epiphany I discovered (initially thanks to Claire at Kiss a Cloud), that Francis over at NonSuch Books was going to be inviting fellow readers to join her on a Proustian reading adventure. She did that yesterday in her Sunday Salon post, and if you haven’t seen her post already then I invite you to do so, because it’s a great post. In it Frances makes it clear that she thinks that the Penguin translation is superior to the original Scott Moncrieff, and she backs that up by pointing to the Reading Proust website (goodness knows how I never stumbled across that during the past few days )), where Daniel the site’s creator provides a side-by-side comparison (which he cleverly titles ‘Dueling madeleines’ )), on one of the more sublime earlier Proustian ‘episodes’ of the book. It’s highly illustrative, and it kind of blows away my original assumption that there would be little difference between the Scott Moncrieff (as in the Wordsworth editions above) and Lydia Davis (the Penguin editions)…[whispers: and readability-wise the Penguin translation does seem better].
Anyway, I thought long and hard about taking Frances up on her invitation. With my reading schedule as packed as it is (I wouldn’t want it any other way )), I had planned to advance through Proust slowly (is there any other speed for reading Proust?), and at my own pace, but sometimes fate creates paths which can’t be ignored. So I decided to bite the bullet (pity it wasn’t a werewolf challenge then I could have said ‘bite the silver bullet’ )), and socialise for once – joining Francis and other readers (including Claire..yay!) on her Proustian adventure.
That decision doesn’t really change things around here of course. My reading commitments remain as they are, it just means I’ve got to fit in more reading (aww..what a shame )) in order to meet the Francis’ deadline of finishing the first volume of Remembrance (Swann’s Way) by April 19th. I was putting up a special section for Proust on RobAroundBooks in the next few days anyway, and I’m still doing that, but you’ll just hear me referencing other readers as well now, as I work my way through Proust.
Ok I’m shutting up! I’m well aware I’ve been talking about Proust too much over the past few days so I’m going to keep quiet about him for a while. In the meantime if I or Frances, or Daniel have whetted your appetite for Proust then I’m sure Frances would love to have you tagging along on the ‘journey’ as well. Check out the details in her Sunday Salon post and drop her a quick comment registering your interest.
About Rob
I would love to read Proust with a group — but I don’t think I can meet that kind of deadline! Wow, by April 19th. I am in the middle of so many books right now.
I know you said in response to my previous comment I’ve certainly read enough, but *I* still feel woefully inadequate for Proust. Proust, I think, will be put off just another year. I will still enjoy hearing your thoughts on it though!
says:
Rebecca – Now you’re making me doubt my own reading ability
) That said I’m 1/2 way through the first volume – Swann’s Way and enjoying immensely, although Proust is INCREDIBLY wordy. Definitely a work that has to be read slowly, really slowly and then only if one is aware that Proust rambles.
I don’t know if anyone has invented the term ‘literary meditation’ but that’s how I feel when I’m reading him.
Warmest
Rob
Rob, I think you’ve read quite a bit more than me.
I love the term “literary meditation.” To me, that sounds very good. I like wordiness in Dickens and Melville, and I assume this is a different kind. But I really do look forward to perusing Proust, just not this year.
I’m so tempted, I want to read Proust and I’ll only do it in a group atmosphere, hmm, I’ll look at the other posts to see.
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Rebecca – I hope it doesn’t look like I’m trying to cajole you too much into joining. I’ll just be happy if you do decide read Proust, whenever you choose to read him.
Kim – Best you go along to France’s place. She’s certainly building quite the atmosphere. Finger’s crossed you decide to join her (us)
Hi Rob, Wow you’ve made quite a progress.. halfway in! That’s wonderful. I haven’t even got my copy yet, haha. Anyway, I figured, if I don’t finish by April 19th I’ll just have to make my own wrap-up post a little later. I don’t want to be burdened, as I do want to savour Proust.
I thought I would like the Davis translation based on hearsay, but upon reading the link comparing the Davis and the revised Moncrieff, I realized how partial I am towards more poetic and old-fashioned writing! So I’m getting the revised Moncrieff and not the Davis after all.
Anyway, happy reading! And hoping to catch up with you and Frances both soon.. have a happy week!
I read the first volume but got terribly bogged down with the second. de Botton is great, I probably have more book about Proust than by him
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I guess that says al lot about Proust’s character Tom. People are just so fascinated by him