Have you ever read any Proust?

Question

I have read Swann's Way and Within a Budding Grove ... I am in the middle of The Guermantes Way and it's starting to drag but I vowed to read the whole novel so I am pushing onward!

Answer 1

I've read Swann's Way and about half of Within a Budding Grove. Swann's Way is one of my favorite books, it's just so beautiful the way he reconstructs all the details and emotions of his life from the taste of a madeleine.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Yes, I read Swann's Way and I have another volume to read, but I forgot which one.

Swann's Way was difficult for me, but I felt that it was rewarding too because Proust goes so deeply into every aspect of what the character's are thinking and feeling that I was truly amazed. But I agree it definitely is hard work.

Good for you that you are committed to finishing the whole novel - sometimes, even in great novels, there are parts that can be boring, but it is still worthwhile to hang in there and read the whole thing because sometimes, after awhile, you get the hang of even the boring parts and understand that they are not so boring after all and even necessary to the novel.

Answer 3

Best of luck! I have only started Swann's and I'm going to read them all as well. There is so much criticism that cites Proust, so I just can't do without it. Also, the narrative is so clever and engaging.

By the way, I found this website quite useful:

http://www.readingproust.com/index.htm