If you came here looking for a straightforward answer, then I’m afraid that is certainly not what you’ll find here because I experienced a type of transportation through the book which I’ve never faced before.
I would like to begin by first looking at Proust’s style of writing before reflecting on the narrative itself. The confusion that clouded my mind when I first started to read was certainly not unheard of as I had skimmed through a couple of spoiler-free reviews before reading where other readers had also expressed how entangled their train of thought would get. After the first few pages, I got into the rhythm of how this book was going to go and really was able to grasp the elaborate, vivid descriptions that took me from place to place with such an ease that, eventually, I found myself fully absorbed in the dreamlike state that all the memories were being narrated through. I haven’t had the chance to analyze or read literature in quite a while, but I remember back in high school when I read certain pieces, I had gotten into the habit of keeping an eye out for any literary devices which I could highlight for future reference. Proust’s writing brought back that tendency and made me really fall in awe with some phrases that really drew me in, such as on page 8 where the room is described to have the “…hostility of the violet curtains..” and the “…clock chattering loudly as though I was not there.” I was able to empathize with the character’s feeling more when reading these lines for this form of personification really intrigued me, especially since it was able to capture the unwelcoming feeling of simply existing in such a room. So unwelcoming that even inanimate objects seem to shun you. The vocabulary really drew me in because Proust’s word choice was so specific as to invoke a feeling in the readers in a very exact way, such as in this line on page 11 where it says “…pushing back her disordered gray locks so that her forehead could more freely drink in the salubriousness of the wind and the rain.” Salubriousness. This word, unheard of to me when I first read it, made me feel as though I myself was there, enjoying the wind and the rain.
What’s funny is that the writing itself impressed me so much, making me eager to see what other complex sentence patterns Proust uses next that over time the narrative itself just completely went over my head, requiring me to often read and reread the text. I can’t seem to pinpoint exactly what I recall from this book but one thing is for sure, there is some serious Oedipus complex going on which I would love to chat about with Proust, just to make sure all is good, up there *taps forehead*.
An interesting, intriguing piece that left me with more doubts and concerns than I had prior to it. Let me know what your thoughts are!
How did your initial impression of the book change as you continued to read on?
Coltrane Yan
January 17, 2022 — 9:14 pm
“…clock chattering loudly as though I was not there.”
I wrote a bit about something similar, and an element that Proust adds to his writing, which is the permanence of objects as humans move around them. I think it is a very interesting way of seeing the world, as we are often very self-centred in our view of materials, and seeing them as ignorant of humanity is very interesting, especially when seeing that it was a human that built the clock in this passage.
Jon
January 17, 2022 — 9:48 pm
“I’m afraid that is certainly not what you’ll find here.”
Ha!
But on another note, you seem to end this post in mid-sentence. Is that deliberate?!
As for your comments on the curtains and the clock and so on… Yes, there’s a lot here about the importance of things. Not least, after all, the madeleine. For an “intellectual” book, there’s a plenty of interest in what’s beyond the intellect.
ChiaraDissanayake
January 17, 2022 — 9:44 pm
Hey Vidushi,
I really loved reading your blog post and gaining insight into your thoughts and first impressions of the novel.I agree with being absorbed in the dreamlike state of the narration and the exploration of memory. The novel was quite a nostalgic blast for me in a way but also a carousel of confusion in others. I also agree with being able to empathise with the character on feeling unwelcome simply by existing. It’s really fascinating how writers like Proust manage to really capture the essence of that feeling through their narration. Thank you for a lovely read!
raymon saran
January 18, 2022 — 12:54 pm
I’m not sure that I paid much attention to the literary devices when reading through my first time, but I now realize many extra little details Proust added to the story. Especially your mentioning of personification. When writers add these types of features, as a reader it allows you to imagine these things happening and feel as if you’re overlooking the story for yourself. I also agree about how complex his sentences were, having me go back over multiple parts of the text to make sure I got what was going on.
samuel wallace
January 18, 2022 — 10:33 pm
Hello Vidushi,
It was good of you to note the “dreamlike” way the story is told, and how it took a while to find the rhythm of the story. I noted in my blog post, as you have, that this central style only outlines the character of the narrator and how he views the world. Description is paramount. Plot often takes a backseat to the tangential meanderings with which this individual loves to embark. Like you, I was struck by the personification of objects in the bedroom; the “…hostility of the violet curtains,” as you noted, is one such example. If nothing else, these further serve the narrator’s view of the world–the uneasy eyes of the hypochondriac to mirror his aunt.