This review was written by Eugene Kernes
Genre = Novel
“The truth was that she could never make up her mind to purchase anything from which no intellectual profit was to be derived, and above all, that profit which good things bestowed on us by teaching us to seek our pleasures elsewhere than in the barren satisfaction of worldly wealth.” – Marcel Proust, Overture, Page 40
“Unfortunately, having formed the habit of think aloud, she did not always take care to see that there was no one in the adjoining room.” – Marcel Proust, Combray, Page 51
“He did not, however, draw her attention to this inconsistency, for he thought that, if left to herself, Odette might perhaps produce some falsehood which would give him a faint indication of the truth.” – Marcel Proust, Swann In Love, Page 287
Overview:
Told with reminiscence.
Looking back on life’s events, which includes the family friend Charles
Swann. Containing the narrator’s
thoughts during the events. From times
of getting into trouble and the unexpected consequences. To reading experiences and the sources of
pleasure. From family life and the
complexity of bonds. To falling in love
and being jealous. Thoughts that contain
the strategizing before an event, to get an appropriate response, and the
varied results that ensue. Each event holds more than just what can be
observed. Along the way is an eclectic
array of information and philosophy. Thoughts
on history, and the changing times. The
interplay between ideas and their impact on decisions made. But what happened in the past cannot be
changed, and the decisions made have to lived with. Rationalizations of the past have their
limitations.
Caveats?
This is a very tedious book to read, containing poor
transitions between ideas. But, the
book’s writing is very consistent with the subject, unfiltered thoughts. Which makes it feel authentic.
