One Year In Search of Lost Time ~ 2015 discussion

Let's talk about auxiliary reads. Anything that supports or supplements our read through In Search of Lost Time. Kristen's already suggested Monsieur Proust's Library.

I've been looking at Paintings in Proust: A Visual Companion to In Search of Lost Time for quite some time. I think it will be a Christmas gift to myself :).

Paula wrote: "I've been looking at Paintings in Proust: A Visual Companion to In Search of Lost Time for quite some time. I think it will be a Christmas gift to myself :)."

I have that one as well, Paula, it's a beautiful book - a must-own!

Kristen wrote: "Paula wrote: "I've been looking at Paintings in Proust: A Visual Companion to In Search of Lost Time for quite some time. I think it will be a Christmas gift to myself :)."

I have t..."

I ordered it today and should have it on Thursday!

I see there are several different Reader Guides. Is anyone going to use one of them?

I am thinking of getting Marcel Proust's Search for Lost Time: A Reader's Guide to The Remembrance of Things Past by Patrick Alexander. Has anyone tried this one?

It looks as if it could be very useful from a "look inside" at Amazon, and the author also has an interesting website:

http://www.proustguide.com/ProustSITE...

A great introduction and sort of idea-summary is Alain de Botton's How Proust can change your life.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Here he explains why Proust spends 30 pages on how his character turns and tosses in bed because he can't sleep: the subject matter is not important, it's all about how Proust treats it. I feel like this is an important lesson for people beginning Proust who are frustrated when "nothing happens". Yes, it's not about what happens, but how expertly Proust describes it, at least in passages like these. That by the way is also why I think you can't really be "spoiled" about Proust.

This is one of my all-time favourite books, I just reread it and feel the same. And i read this before reading a word of Proust's own FYI.

Here's my review of it:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Monsieur Proust's Library sounds like an excellent auxiliary read, will look into it!

Welcome, Simon, and thanks for the advice. Alain de Botton's book sounds fascinating - I have just ordered it from the library.

I've also just found a great blog where a group read Proust a few years back - this page has suggestions for several auxiliary reads.

http://thecorklinedroom.wordpress.com...

PS, in the comments on that blog page there is a link to free reader guides at the Random House page, which have a lot of discussion questions:

http://www.randomhouse.com/book/13623...

Proust at the Majestic by Richard Davenport Hines.

For anyone seeking notes as they go, I've just come across this site which has notes with illustrations - it has answered a few of my questions during the first few pages.

http://www.bookdrum.com/books/in-sear...

Judy wrote: "For anyone seeking notes as they go, I've just come across this site which has notes with illustrations - it has answered a few of my questions during the first few pages.

http://www.bookdrum.com/..."

Thanks, Judy, that looks great.

Charles, I have read - and enjoyed - a couple of books by Richard Davenport Hines, so I would be interested to read, "Proust at the Majestic."

Just dipping in....with a warning. ;)
"Spoilers" have a way of sneaking in articles/books about Proust and the novel.

Antoine Compagnon spoke at The Morgan Library's 2013 exhibition, celebrating the 100th Anniversary of "Swann's Way," about the difference between reading and re-reading the novel.

He reaffirmed the reality that a reader will only read it once...as the "first" time. He recommends reading it "innocently."

For me...reading for the first time was like a gift, one doesn't want to be told what is inside the box, as the bow is being pulled loose.

I agree totally - we are, I believe, only discussing up to the point we read each week. It is also why I do not wish to read a guide to the books, as I have no prior knowledge of what will happen.

Judy wrote: "For anyone seeking notes as they go, I've just come across this site which has notes with illustrations - it has answered a few of my questions during the first few pages.

http://www.bookdrum.com/..."

Thank you, those brief notes are v helpful, and I think I'll limit myself to this extra just now!

Agreed, Marcelita. We all know that in this novel a spoiler isn't going to ruin the suspense of a cliffhanger, but there's a lot more going on then plot. The first time we read something we're living the story with the characters. Any subsequent readings are more like a vivid memory of that first, fresh experience. That's certainly important which is why I think if you're going to genuinely read ISoLT it's an 8000 page commitment. You have to read it twice. But I wouldn't give up the novelty and discovery of a first reading for anything.

Of course, if your interest is more academic and you don't want to read it twice, secondary sources would be a fine help.

Jacob wrote: "Agreed, Marcelita. We all know that in this novel a spoiler isn't going to ruin the suspense of a cliffhanger, but there's a lot more going on than plot.

You have to read it twice. But I wouldn't give up the novelty and discovery of a first reading for anything...."

Me either...or the opportunity to read vicariously the posts of an innocent reader.
Not wanting to single out the soul, but one particularly gave me such joy. The words took me back to my first impressions...an involuntary memory.

Maybe that is why I gravitate to forums of first-time readers. I have the opportunity, if there are particular words that trigger, to re-capture my innocent self, reading alone and overwhelmed by the closing pages of the novel.

Jacob wrote: "Let's talk about auxiliary reads. Anything that supports or supplements our read through In Search of Lost Time. Kristen's already suggested Monsieur Proust's Library."

Jacob, perhaps it would be a good idea to add all the books mentioned in this discussion (plus others as they are mentioned) to a bookshelf for this group. (Unfortunately only you as moderator can do so, otherwise I would have done so already.)

Good idea, Ben. Jacob should be able to award group members like you positions like Moderator or something, so that they can add books to the bookshelf.

I've changed the settings so anyone can add books to a bookshelf. I've already added those mentioned above.

I've also added some. In addition, last year's bookshelf can be found at the following link:

https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

Paula wrote: "I've been looking at Paintings in Proust: A Visual Companion to In Search of Lost Time for quite some time. I think it will be a Christmas gift to myself :)."

Paula, I hope there was something "arty" in your stocking. Like you, I appreciate having Eric Karpeles' book as a reference.

But what about all those musicians and composers in the novel?

Here is the best resource I have found on the music in Proust:
"Music in Marcel Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu, A Playlist Resource" by James Connelly, Proust Society of America, Boston Chapter.
http://www.radioproust.org/lib/db_lin...

"Music in Marcel Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu, A Playlist Resource. Graciously hosted by Bard College's Radio Proust, this publication covers all of the musical references in La Recherche. It draws together in one place (along with Internet links) biographical information, images, and suggested recordings of music (both classical and popular) in La Recherche over the now near century and a quarter, stretching from Edison cylinders to CDs published as recently as late 2012."
http://www.proust-ink.com/invites/con...

After completing his research, Connelly was asked to contribute to this book, which is the only one of its kind...to date.
(I bought my copy, only in French, at the museum in Illiers-Combray.)


"The American James Connelly (translated by Catherine Tourrière) wrote Chapter 11, that serves both CDs. He explains the choice of each composer of each piece recorded in relation to the personality of Marcel Proust."
https://translate.google.com/translat...

http://www.amazon.fr/Marcel-Proust-Un...

The two discs are included with the book:

Blue CD (duration 56 ')

1. Richard Wagner - Tristan and Isolde - Arr. V. Alfred Pringsheim: Trio George Sand
2. Robert Schumann - Dichterliebe op.48 (Rose Die die die Taube Lili): Didier Henry & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
3. Robert Schumann - Dichterliebe op.48 (Ein Mädchen Jüngling liebt ein): Didier Henry & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
4. Robert Schumann - Phantasiestücke op.88 (Humoreske): Trio George Sand
5. Reynaldo Hahn - painters Portraits (Anton van Dyck): Caroline Gautier & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
6. Reynaldo Hahn - Chives (Road Song): Roll Recording
7. Reynaldo Hahn - Country Cemetery: Didier Henry & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
8. Edmond de Polignac - The lagoons (Lamento): Didier Henry & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
9. Frédéric Chopin - Trio in G minor op.8 (Adagio sostenuto): Trio George Sand
10. Yvette Guilbert - Madame Arthur: Juliette & Benoît Urbain
11. Gabriel Fauré - Berceuse Op.16 Virginia Buscail & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
12. Gabriel Fauré - The Present op.46 1: Didier Henry & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
13. Richard Wagner - The enchantment of Good Friday (arrangement for piano and string quartet Edward Delale): Trio George Sand, Cyril Bouffyesse & Lyodoh Kaneko

CD Blanc (duration 61 ')

1. Harry Fragson - Friends of Mr Juliette & Benoît Urbain
2. Augusta Holmès - The Hours (Time Riviera): Didier Henry & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
3. Camille Saint-Saëns - The wait: Didier Henry & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
4. Maurice Ravel - Pavane for a Dead Princess (transcription for violin and piano by Paul Kochanski) Buscail Virginie & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
5. Jules Massenet - No. 5 October Poem: Didier Henry & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
6. Franz Schubert - Schwanengesang (Abschied): Didier Henry & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
7. Ludwig van Beethoven - Trio op.97 told Archduke (Scherzo): Trio George Sand
8. Reynaldo Hahn - Scenes danced (Edgar Degas): Roll Recording
9. Félix Mayol - Viens Poupoule: Juliette & Benoît Urbain
10. Leon Delafosse - Lies Didier Henry & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
11. César Franck - If there is a lovely grass: Didier Henry & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
12. Claude Debussy - Pelléas et Mélisande (transcription for trio with Henri Mouton piano) Trio George Sand
13. Reynaldo Hahn - painters Portraits (Paulus Potter): Caroline Gautier & Anne-Lise Gastaldi
14. Gerard Pesson - Do not forget cracked red rooster in day: Trio George Sand
15. Reynaldo Hahn - Scènes dansées (Edgar Degas) : Enregistrement de rouleau

Judy wrote: "Welcome, Simon, and thanks for the advice. Alain de Botton's book sounds fascinating - I have just ordered it from the library.

I've also just found a great blog where a group read Proust a few years back, ....."


Yes, Dennis Abrams' "The Cork-Lined Room" is an excellent blog.
(Uses Lydia Davis' Swann's Way, before switching to Modern Library's Moncrieff/Kilmartin/Enright)
http://thecorklinedroom.wordpress.com...

Two others I would recommend, for those who desire another point of view.
As always...SPOILERS! could always creep in. So caution, when exploring these fabulous blogs.

If you like annotated reading: "Reading Proust For Fun" by RkC. (Renée)
Started in 2009, Renée is currently on "Sodom and Gomorrah."
So, you will finish before she does. ;)
http://readproust.blogspot.com/2009_0...

"182 of Reading Proust: Day by Day Summary" by Charles Matthews.
(He uses the Penguin translation for the page numbers.)
http://proustproject.blogspot.com/p/d...


WEBSITES

"Temps Perdu," one of the first Proust websites, created by Dr. Mark Calkins.
He leads The Proust Society of America-San Francisco reading group at The Mechanics Library. (Superb SPOILER! list of characters; just reading about them will reveal their future!)
http://www.tempsperdu.com

"The Proust Reader" by Jim Everett.
Philosophical and thought provoking; good for second-time readers.
Beware first-times readers ....you will probably see a SPOILER!
http://proustreader.com/2009/09/

And...my favorite English SPOILER! website:
"Proust Ink," by William C. Carter, America's Proust guru. This is a comprehensive and spoiler website, with A-Z topics and themes that are revealing and so much more--with videos.
(Uses Modern Library (M/K/E) for his subscriber Online Course.)
http://www.proust-ink.com
"Poustiana" videos:
http://www.proust-ink.com/proustiana/

My favorite French SPOILER! website.
"Proust, ses personnages," by André Vincens.
Do you want to know how many times a particular character was in each volume?
Who is that character? Summaries of each volume? Photos?
Home: http://proust-personnages.fr
A-Z list, with occurrences: http://proust-personnages.fr/?page_id...

For second-time readers...some fun.

Can you complete Patrice Louis' Proust quiz?
(Patrice Louis is the President of the Tourist Office in Illiers-Combray.)

Patrice would welcome your answers.
I recently answered just one....#94...for sportsmanship. ;)

See the questions and Enter your answers here: http://lefoudeproust.fr/quizz/
(I write in English, on the French page.)

See the Quiz In English:
https://translate.google.com/translat...

I agree that one shouldn't read extensively about it beforehand. A general overview of the plot/themes is beneficial, but no more than that -- as has been said, you don't want big spoilers!

I finished Swann's Way just a few weeks ago (didn't know about this great group then) and after finishing I bought "Paintings in Proust". This is an amazing visual aid which I'd recommend to everyone: it doesn't bias you with interpretations or the like, it simply gives you the painting alongside with the quote where it is mentioned.

I also bought Patrick Alexander's guide book, from which I read Proust's biography out of interest, and the overview. I'd recommend too, although not as essential as the paintings book.
I plan to read the summaries of all the previous books just before starting the next one -- to refresh my memory.

Best