Reader discussion: Swann's Way

Public reader discussion about Swann's Way by Marcel Proust.

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By ReadsZenith

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Proust: Moncrieff vs Kilmartin, is there a difference.

By whiteduck

Hey, does anybody know if there are different editions for Moncrieff and for Moncrieff + Kilmartin? If there is, what exactly did Kilmartin do, and what’s actually different? I came across this line in a sample and I honestly couldn’t tell which version it was from, or if there’s even any difference. “The first sounds from the street had told me, according to whether they came to my ears dulled and distorted by the moisture of the atmosphere or quivering like arrows in the

I put off reading Proust for such a long time as I was intimidated…big mistake!

By PageLooks

I’m really loving the way he writes. It’s kind of hypnotic, like the story just pulls you under fast. When I read Swann’s Way, everything else fades out. I don’t know how to put it exactly, but it feels like settling under something cozy. Honestly, it’s super comforting to me. Sometimes I’ll lose a little steam if a sentence gets really long, but if I reread it, it clicks and I can suddenly follow what he means. It’s like getting a little spark back in my head. Has anyone else had a similar reaction?

Why you shouldn't be afraid to read Swann's Way

By BlackCorner

Holy crap, this book was so good it kinda blew past anything I thought it would be. It’s seriously the most tempting, juicy heartthrob thing I’ve ever read. And don’t let the whole “Marcel Proust” thing scare you. He’s mostly talking about stuff we’ve all lived through, even if it’s wrapped in that purple, super long-winded style. I was weirdly intimidated at first, but it ended up feeling almost charming once I realized he’s basically describing the everyday stuff: fighting to get to sleep, missing a girl, wanting good brioche, forgetting a song and then getting that little urge again after a drink… all the tiny little emotional moments. It’s the daily-life closeness, and honestly I’ve never seen those feelings put into words this beautifully. Even though it’s “In Search of Lost Time,” I feel like he kind of already found it—like the whole point is appreciating whatever life is giving you right now. It’s like a way of writing down the small mundane days everybody gets, and somehow making them feel important. The best parts aren’t always the huge dramatic moments; it’s these little pockets of life that he nails. Also it felt especially fitting to read during the pandemic. If you backed out after a page or two, please try again. I haven’t really felt “in love” with a book like this before. I was genuinely scared to finish because I didn’t want it to be over. I just hope more people give it a real shot so they can feel that wide, endless beauty it shows you. I’m actually devastated about it now. I ordered part 2, but it won’t get here until March 9, so… yeah. EDIT: If you do read it, take your time. It’s totally fine to reread sentences. He also drops references to a bunch of gorgeous art—look them up when you see the titles, because it helps a lot and they’re really pretty.

Characters' ages

By paperbackmarket2003

Hi! Quick question—does anyone know how old Marcel is during *Swann’s Way* and *Within a Budding Grove*? If there are any good articles that talk about the characters’ ages, I’d love links. Merci.

I kind of hate the mantra of 'if you're not enjoying the book stop reading.

By HawkBirch2001

I’m reading *Jane Eyre* right now and I’m in the last stretch (like the final 100 pages). I’ll be honest, it’s been kind of a slog in some parts. It’s old and pretty dense, and even though I’m into gothic stuff, romance isn’t really the genre I naturally reach for. That said, I’ve still ended up finding it really rewarding. This has happened to me with a lot of classics and other books that are well-regarded but hard to get through. I wouldn’t say I always enjoy it while I’m reading, but usually by the end I can see why people love it so much. I did go looking at some discussion and I kept seeing the same advice: “If you’re not enjoying it, stop reading.” And it bothered me a bit. Is art only supposed to be for enjoyment? If we only stuck with the fast, easy page-turners that match whatever we already like, how many great books would never get a chance? Same with movies, honestly. With more difficult storytelling, I don’t think enjoyment is always the point, but if you push through it, it can end up being rewarding in a bigger way than just “I liked it.” Telling people to quit as soon as they hit a rough patch feels like it would rob them of that. What do other people think?

A First Reading of Proust: Strong arguments for either the Moncrieff or Lydia Davis translations of Swann's Way?

By cosmicChair98

I’m thinking about jumping into *Remembrance of Things Past* / *In Search of Lost Time*, but I’m not sure how to pace it—maybe one volume a year, or maybe closer together. It’s also just so massive that I want to actually enjoy it and get something out of it, not slog through it. I’ve seen people argue for both the Moncrieff/Kilmartin translations and the newer Penguin ones. From what I gather, the Moncrieff/Kilmartin style is more old-timey and lush—maybe a bit florid, overwrought, and more “interpreting” than translating straight. The Penguin versions seem to be clearer and more literal, but possibly less fun or less exciting. I’ve tried some of the Enright revisions of Moncrieff and I didn’t click with it at all; it felt stilted and kind of clipped, like a chore to read. Meanwhile, both Moncrieff/Kilmartin and Lydia Davis’s *Swann’s Way* versions seem to move along okay for me. So I’d really like to hear why you’d pick one over the other. Are there specific parts where one translation feels way better? Any obvious misses—tone, mood, that whole “beauty” thing? And yeah, I’m less worried about getting the “most accurate” Proust-soul version and more about which reads best as English literature. If you’ve got any personal Proust stories from your reading experience, I want those too.

1 Swan’s way

By SilverFocus1993

Seems like a good spot to read and talk about Marcel Proust’s books and his life. If not, you could also check out other book/literature communities or just search for Proust in general.

Dating the events in Swann's Way

By cougarplain

I’m not sure if anyone else has tried to line up the dates in Swann’s Way, but I’ve been digging into it a bit and I think there are a few clues. In “Combray” they name a few actors—Bernhardt, Bartet, Brohan, and Samary—and the only overlap I can find for when they were all active is 1874 to 1886. Then “Swann in Love” looks like it’s during Grevy’s presidency (1879 to 1888). And Odette is said to be in Nice during the early part of MacMahon’s presidency, so 1875 to 1879. There’s also something about the Verdurins coming back to Paris during a revolution. I’m guessing that means the Commune in 1871. At the start, when Swann visits Marcel’s place, it even mentions the idea he might have a letter from the Comte de Paris—he was in exile at Twickenham, from 1886 until his death in 1894. That would put it about ten years into Swann’s marriage, I think. One thing I can’t quite pin down: how old is the narrator at the beginning of the second book, when he’s talking about “now” being 1913? Anyway, just some thoughts.

The Greatest Books of All Time, As Voted by 125 Famous Authors

By MistRestless2003

Lolita is probably one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s honestly so good, and the narrator is so slick and manipulative that at times you catch yourself questioning whether he’s really doing anything wrong. The whole thing just feels crazy well crafted. And I really love Swann’s Way too. I once read that Virginia Woolf would pick up Marcel Proust pretty soon after he put his books out, but she always felt kind of awful after reading him—like she’d never be able to write as well. Not sure how true that is, but that’s what I remember.