Thank you for this great post. Very exciting. I can't wait to read these stories. I appreciate how you mention the peculiar energy of Proust. He really is an incredible writer. No one else like him.
I had my eye on this being a big release of 2021 but thought it'd be absurd for me to read it before Search! Do we know whether these were written before or after Search, whether they were outtakes of a sort, or side projects? When they are this tiny though it's hard to know?!
I talk about this in the video, but they were written around the time of Pleasures and Days (i.e. before the Search). The introduction makes a case that the "overt" homosexuality of the stories kept him from publishing them (as I talk about in the video, I don't exactly buy that). But--unlike Bolano's Cowboy Graves, which was apparently a recent hack-job of Bolano's scraps, these stories were intact. If I had to classify them, I would say some are side projects and some were intended for inclusion in Pleasures and Days. Also, as I told someone else, these would be perfect aperitifs for the Search!
I still want to read In search of lost time but finding the time and endurance to read through all is a challenge. Random question: have you ever read Australian literature(I live in Australia)? I am going to read Riders in the Chariot by Patrick White(the first Australian to win the Nobel prize for literature) which is considered a classic.
These stories could be a good apéritif to the Search! Australians I've read include Markus Zusak, Jen Craig, John N Scott, and Trent Dalton. I have Voss by White and I look forward to it being my next Australian lit!
Proust is to Literature as Mozart is to Music, transcending talent and even genius. This collection sounds sublime! (P.S. Have you engaged with the work of Dimitris Lyacos? I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts on his multilayered masterpiece, the Poena Damni trilogy.)
Great video! I have been intrigued by Proust for some time. How did you tackle In Search of Lost Time? I am a bit intimidated by it, so it would be interesting to hear some differing angles of approach.
@@LeafbyLeaf Thank you! I love the idea of becoming immersed in Proust's world. I am struck by books which treat sensory experiences with painstaking detail. Do you know which edition is affordable? I have seen a very nice looking hardcover set but it seems impossible to find at a reasonable price. Finally, Moncrieff or Davis? Thank you as always for the great literature content.
Thanks for reviewing this. What you read was wonderful. I ordered the book. I’m ready to get into Lost Time after I finish Joyce. The complete Finnegans Wake is out on audible and it is fantastic. Have you heard it? I think I will always prefer Joyce because he can be funny silly goofy. Is Proust ever funny? Most ‘serious’ literature is not, and that’s wrong which is why Joyce will always win IMO. Another request: Melville’s Pierre. I loved it. New subscriber.
Hey there--thanks! Yes, Proust can be funny, but the humor is nothing like Joyce. You know who is often associated with serious, difficult lit but is actually funny-silly-goofy? Thomas Pynchon. I just finished re-reading Gravity's Rainbow and I had forgotten how bonkers Pynchon is! High art and low art combined, just like Joyce. No, I have not heard FW--I bet that's a wild ride! Nice to meet someone else who appreciates Pierre. I am a huge Melville fan. Moby-Dick is without question my favorite 19th-century American novel. Have you ever read Jean Giono's MELVILLE? I've a video on it up here. Thanks for the sub!
@@LeafbyLeaf Moby Dick is my favorite and is on my list to reread. I will check out Jean Giono. After FW my next up on reading list includes the Proust short stories, The Magic Mountain (reread), Blavatsky Secret Doctrine, Zarathustra Nietzsche, and Against The Day! I attempted GR years ago but didn’t finish. My goal has been working less and reading more. And so far I’m doing it by working at home(very little) and stock gains. Be careful, I know. Living simple, spending less is key. Life is short and too many books I NEED to read. Also, turning off the fear. Another book I just ordered is Stop reading the News by Rolf Dobelli. Have a great day
Yet another addition to my ever increasing to-read list, along with the later '21 releases such as the new Fernando Zalamea and Barbero's Dante. Wondering if you've ever read Born Upon the Dark Spear, the Selected Poems of Ahmad Shamlou. A stalwart of Iranian literature, I reckon you'd enjoy his mastering of imagery in the contrast of death and vitality, if you are yet to read him.
The good news is that "obese" is a healthy state for TBRs! 2021 does have some gems so far and to come. Richard Powers has a new novel coming out this fall too! I have not read that Shamlou, but you sold me on it. Seeking it out now!
I read a pretty balanced and steady mix of the two, but, overall, I think I'd have to say I enjoy fiction over non-fiction because, in short, fiction expresses emotion and meaning in addition to fact whereas non-fiction only expresses the fact.
Thanks for coming back
Thanks--I've missed everyone!
Thank you for this great post. Very exciting. I can't wait to read these stories. I appreciate how you mention the peculiar energy of Proust. He really is an incredible writer. No one else like him.
You're quite welcome! Always a pleasure to hear from another Proustian.
I had my eye on this being a big release of 2021 but thought it'd be absurd for me to read it before Search! Do we know whether these were written before or after Search, whether they were outtakes of a sort, or side projects? When they are this tiny though it's hard to know?!
I talk about this in the video, but they were written around the time of Pleasures and Days (i.e. before the Search). The introduction makes a case that the "overt" homosexuality of the stories kept him from publishing them (as I talk about in the video, I don't exactly buy that). But--unlike Bolano's Cowboy Graves, which was apparently a recent hack-job of Bolano's scraps, these stories were intact. If I had to classify them, I would say some are side projects and some were intended for inclusion in Pleasures and Days. Also, as I told someone else, these would be perfect aperitifs for the Search!
Have you read any of John Fowles work (the collector, the magus, the French lieutenant’s daughter)?
I’ve only read The Magus. Was actually recently thinking of a reread.
I still want to read In search of lost time but finding the time and endurance to read through all is a challenge. Random question: have you ever read Australian literature(I live in Australia)? I am going to read Riders in the Chariot
by Patrick White(the first Australian to win the Nobel prize for literature) which is considered a classic.
These stories could be a good apéritif to the Search!
Australians I've read include Markus Zusak, Jen Craig, John N Scott, and Trent Dalton. I have Voss by White and I look forward to it being my next Australian lit!
The intro talks at some length about that “forerunner” or “precursor” in a way that really stirred my interest.
True. It would be a good one to read and review here in the channel!
Ahhhh
Proust is to Literature as Mozart is to Music, transcending talent and even genius. This collection sounds sublime! (P.S. Have you engaged with the work of Dimitris Lyacos? I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts on his multilayered masterpiece, the Poena Damni trilogy.)
The analogy of Proust to Mozart is parfait! (I ordered the box set of that trilogy a few weeks back because someone else contacted me about it!)
@@LeafbyLeaf That’s fantastic! I hope you enjoy it, and look forward to hearing your thoughts on it someday
I’ll definitely make a video on it.
New Proust in 2021?! This year keeps getting weirder and weirder...
New Proust and new Bolaño in 2021. What’s next indeed?
@@LeafbyLeaf A new Pynchon novel would be nice. Haha
Agreed. Especially since Bleeding Edge left me wanting.
@@LeafbyLeaf Wait . . . what? Bolano? Do you mean Cowboy Graves? Or something else?
Yeah, Cowboy Graves. I think I called it the wrong name.
Your reviews are always compelling.
Thanks! 👊🙏
Great video! I have been intrigued by Proust for some time. How did you tackle In Search of Lost Time? I am a bit intimidated by it, so it would be interesting to hear some differing angles of approach.
I read one volume every other month for 1 year. Here's my Proust playlist with a video for each volume: ua-cam.com/video/C9Ifo6DEcE0/v-deo.html
@@LeafbyLeaf Thank you! I love the idea of becoming immersed in Proust's world. I am struck by books which treat sensory experiences with painstaking detail. Do you know which edition is affordable? I have seen a very nice looking hardcover set but it seems impossible to find at a reasonable price. Finally, Moncrieff or Davis? Thank you as always for the great literature content.
Definitely Lydia Davis-but, sadly, she only translated the first book.
Yay!
Agree!
Thanks for reviewing this. What you read was wonderful. I ordered the book. I’m ready to get into Lost Time after I finish Joyce. The complete Finnegans Wake is out on audible and it is fantastic. Have you heard it? I think I will always prefer Joyce because he can be funny silly goofy. Is Proust ever funny? Most ‘serious’ literature is not, and that’s wrong which is why Joyce will always win IMO. Another request: Melville’s Pierre. I loved it. New subscriber.
Hey there--thanks! Yes, Proust can be funny, but the humor is nothing like Joyce. You know who is often associated with serious, difficult lit but is actually funny-silly-goofy? Thomas Pynchon. I just finished re-reading Gravity's Rainbow and I had forgotten how bonkers Pynchon is! High art and low art combined, just like Joyce. No, I have not heard FW--I bet that's a wild ride! Nice to meet someone else who appreciates Pierre. I am a huge Melville fan. Moby-Dick is without question my favorite 19th-century American novel. Have you ever read Jean Giono's MELVILLE? I've a video on it up here. Thanks for the sub!
@@LeafbyLeaf Moby Dick is my favorite and is on my list to reread. I will check out Jean Giono. After FW my next up on reading list includes the Proust short stories, The Magic Mountain (reread), Blavatsky Secret Doctrine, Zarathustra Nietzsche, and Against The Day! I attempted GR years ago but didn’t finish. My goal has been working less and reading more. And so far I’m doing it by working at home(very little) and stock gains. Be careful, I know. Living simple, spending less is key. Life is short and too many books I NEED to read. Also, turning off the fear. Another book I just ordered is Stop reading the News by Rolf Dobelli. Have a great day
“Work less, read more”-I LOVE the sound of that!!!
Great as always. When i saw your face a thought crossed my mind. You need to grow a nice mustache idk, it would work very nice on u.
Thanks! Perhaps like this one? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Proust#/media/File:Marcel_Proust_1900-2.jpg
Yet another addition to my ever increasing to-read list, along with the later '21 releases such as the new Fernando Zalamea and Barbero's Dante.
Wondering if you've ever read Born Upon the Dark Spear, the Selected Poems of Ahmad Shamlou. A stalwart of Iranian literature, I reckon you'd enjoy his mastering of imagery in the contrast of death and vitality, if you are yet to read him.
The good news is that "obese" is a healthy state for TBRs!
2021 does have some gems so far and to come. Richard Powers has a new novel coming out this fall too!
I have not read that Shamlou, but you sold me on it. Seeking it out now!
Definitely a must-buy
Agreed!
Do you mostly like fiction or none fiction? Why so? Thanks
I read a pretty balanced and steady mix of the two, but, overall, I think I'd have to say I enjoy fiction over non-fiction because, in short, fiction expresses emotion and meaning in addition to fact whereas non-fiction only expresses the fact.
First
Eh?