The Year of Reading Proust discussion

Proust had confided to the Comte Jean de Gaigneron that the structure of his novel was inspired by the cathedral. The Poetics of Space would be a good read to help deepen our understanding.

Fantastic. It's winging-its-way to me this'un instant. As Proustitute says, it will really deepen the reading experience.

It's really good so far. I may have to disappear from discussions briefly to munch on this. I think I can finish this in two days if the hook is in deep. I won't get much sleep, but I'll finish it. I didn't get much sleep last night because I had an ah-ha moment. But it's so worth it.

That's a good sign, P!

I just ordered this one and the Deleuze...!!.. but I have to finish the Carter (the Quest) first...!!!

They're all good, Kalliope. Happy reading!

I'm so glad you created this thread, Aloha. It's high time I revisited this book -- I'll join in the discussion. :)

My copy has just arrived. 'A magical book... The Poetics of Space is a prism through which all worlds from literary creation to housework to aesthetics to carpentry take on enhanced -and enchanted- significances.'

Perfect.

I'm loving it. I didn't have time to post my status update this morning, but I'm almost halfway through. Lots of great stuff in it.

Aloha wrote: "I'm loving it. I didn't have time to post my status update this morning, but I'm almost halfway through. Lots of great stuff in it."

Mine should arrive by Thursday...!!

(At the door of the house, who will come knocking?
An open door, we enter
A closed door, a den
The world pulse beats beyond my door.) Pierre Albert Birot

(When the peaks of our sky come together
My house will have a roof.)

we read a house, we read a room

Just got a copy of The Poetics of Space, and it looks like a book that will resonate with me. Thanks Aloha for pointing me in this direction.

Glad you're joining me in reading this, Reem!

Just received this and the Deleuze book.

Just got it at our local B&N (very surprised they had it!). At first I thought I was back doing my dissertation, with the "phenomenological study" bit. Nearly tossed it aside, but it is so good already (two pages in!) so I'll keeping going :)

I'm hoping to finish it today. This is a book I'd like to write a review on in order to study it in depth. Keep going with it, Martin. It really is a good book.

Dear fellow Proust fans, I thought of a book which may be of interest to those who have enjoyed reading Bachelard with Proust in mind.

L'espace proustien

Which has also translated into English.Proustian Space

It seems apt, pertinent to this discussion.

Thank you, Nick. I put it on my extensive "buy" list.

Me too :), thanks Nick

Thanks Nick - Proust books aplenty... I'm living on bread and water...

Really enjoying this book. The quotes of Rilke's writing in the context of expressing a storm's behaviour 'as the negative of a house' are captivating.

I love this quote from the book:

“literary “miniatures,” these objects that are so easily made smaller through literary means?”

Proust made literary miniatures from his memory.

on page 8:

"... a being who does not want to melt away, and who, even in the past, when he sets out in search of things past, wants time to 'suspsend' its flight. In its countless alveoli space contains compressed time. That is what space is for."

I can feel the Proust dripping onto my hands from this text...

LOL! Yes, P. We want to see some erudite stuff from you in those sections. I finished this book. It is a terrific analysis on the internal and/vs. external space. I hope to write a review on it. It's the kind of stuff I like to analyze.

I know what you mean, Nick. Most books I am looking for are those sort of "University Press" or fairly scarce. Finding 'em is often no problem, but paying for them is!

And to others who said thanks, you are most welcome. We are all benefiting greatly from each other's input.

If some of you are interested I quoted a few sentences from Bachelard's The Poetics of Space on my Twitter account @danielhszabo

Daniel wrote: "If some of you are interested I quoted a few sentences from Bachelard's The Poetics of Space on my Twitter account @danielhszabo"

I followed you. Thanks!

This book looks great. I see that it influenced Camille Paglia. So it must be interesting if nothing else. I'm juggling Proust, Coleridge and NY Review of Books, but I'll add P of Space to my list.

Rick, I highly recommend reading it in tandem with starting Proust. It doesn't give away spoilers, but helps you to see ISOLT with dreamier eyes. Also, since I love the Zen idea of negative space in Asian art, it resonates with me. Looks like you're juggling some intense but rewarding reads.

Indeed. I read ISOLT in '99-00, so am going through the thing again. Coleridge is more of a dipping in and out. Thanks again for the book recomm.