Swann's Way

Life, A User's Manual

To some extent writing about a single book in Marcel Proust's seven-part "À la recherché du temps perdu", more accurately translated as "In Search of Lost Time" but in Moncrieff's translation having the title "Remembrance of Things Past", is actually writing about the whole series. But since I am listening to the whole of it, I'll be writing about them individually as well.

I'm by no means unfamiliar with Proust, having read seven tenths of it in Finnish, my first language, in which it has been released in ten volumes instead of the original seven ("Swann's Way" is divided in two volumes, as is "Within a Budding Grove" and "Guermantes' Way"). It'll be, then, a nice experience to return to it and ultimately go all the way.

Proust's writing works wonderfully in the audiobook format. The way his language builds up, all the allegories and metaphors stacked upon each other and how the currents of thought swerve having been recalled by any minute detail, all this works beautifully when one reads the book but exceptionally well when one is read to. In this respect Neville Jason's narration is superb. He takes his time, not procrastinating but certainly not hurrying.

Equally importantly his reading brings out the humour in Proust. And what a hoot this book really is! The dinner party at Combray and a certain episode about complementing the wine brought by Swann is hilarious on page and is really brought to life when heard out loud. Many other instances work just as wonderfully, including the Verdurin episodes in all their glorious absurdity.

And then there's Swann himself and his love and infatuation for Odette. At the same time fervent, life-affirming, destructive and inescapable, the irrationality with which Proust paints Swann's actions, or rather, the movements of his soul, only reinforces the believability of his neurotic obsession. His story is framed by the Narrator's own insecurity in love, first toward his mother at Combray, then for Gilberte.

I know how I'll be spending my next credits.

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

Unparalleled reading of a great book

If you could sum up Swann's Way in three words, what would they be?

Memory and time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Swann - fascinating to see his character develop over the course of the book and how his relationship with Odette turns out.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

It would be invidious to choose. The book needs to be taken as a whole (and as part of the overall series). It is not just about "scenes", but interpretations and re-interpretations and linkages and philosophical and social musings.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

A long book (and series) so pacing is important. Audio allowed me to race (relatively speaking) through the whole series as I could listen while walking, on trains etc.

Any additional comments?

It deserves its high reputation. Some, but relatively few, longeurs once you accept the way the book unfolds and get into the flow which becomes addictive. The central themes are as relevant now as when written. I was not sure how I would take to Neville Jason after hearing the free taster. He rapidly grew on me and gives what I think is an outstanding, nuanced performance, with appropriate characterisation. Clear and warm diction, easy to understand and follow as complex, long sentences were worked through with sufficient forward momentum. His voice is now Marcel Proust for me!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Hard going as an audiobook

This is undoubtedly a great classic, though one that requires patience and concentration. It's all in the detail and minutiae, the process of remembering and trying to capture fleeting impressions and feelings from the narrator's childhood and then the perspective of Swann. The canvas is small but the detail incredibly rich, like a Persian miniature, and for the audiobook, Neville Jason does a great job to narrate with unflagging passion and feeling over such a sustained period. I must confess, however, that I drifted off quite often, and found it hard to maintain interest compared to other books where a more muscular plot pulls you along without effort. On the upside, it's split into 10 minute sections so you can swallow it down like medicine once or twice a day before switching to something easier going.

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

Holier than vous

Like many people, I am listening to 'In Search' in an attempt to catch up on reading I would like to have done when I was younger. I was warned it may be tedious, but decided to give it a go anyway. I have been trying to like it, but I am deterred by Neville Jason's reading. It is deeply irritating, and he sounds like a creepy vicar. I will try John Rowe's version, as the reviewers seem to be saying that it is at least less dreary than the Jason version. There are also unforgivable pronunciations of French words, such as "rams" for Reims (rather than the more correct pronunciation of "ra~s").

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Without Peer

Tender-recollections-of-a-pristine-boyhood-whose-places-people-feelings-now-long-past-softly-flow-and-intimately-engage/frame-a-love-story-of-a-French-gentleman-of-perfect-breeding-caught-in-the-web-of-a-Parisian-courtesan-whose\generous-telling-and-penetrating-observation-of-late-19thC-social-mores-captures&hold&charms-over-this-novel-length-part-1-of-7.
Proust,-more-often-studied-than-simply-read,-turns-out-to-be-a-delight. Although-older-translations-are-available-free-on-youtube-this-investment-repays-handsomely.
Excellent-flow-in-English-retaining-just-the-right-amount-of-French-place-names-etc.
This-narrator-clearly-has-an-excellent-grasp-of-the-original-language.
Unfortunately-translation-cannot-reproduce-puns-etc-but-this-sensitive-narrator-makes-sure-we-get-the-gist-anyway.
Proust-occasionally-indulges-in-elaborate-sub-clauses,but-even-his-longest-sentences-are-quite-intelligible-in-this-edition.
Proust-has-a-remarkable-sensitivity-to-shades-of-human-sexuality-particularly-lesbian-highly-recommended.
This-narrator-captures-Proust's-non-judgemental-tone-of-humanity-in-relating-such-subjects.
I-listened-twice-and-feel-thrice-would-still-yield-fresh-pleasures.
This-narrator-deftly-&-consistently-reproduces-character-in-his-voicing-of-both-male/female/old/young-without-the-dreadful-slips-in-my-last-JRR-Martin-read.
Classics-of-literary-fiction-can-be-done-well-in-audiobook-format-&-I-struck-gold-here.
6-more-volumes-to-go!
Can't-wait!
Buy-this-using-monthly-credits-7-vols@-retail-price-would-break-the-bank.

My opinion might change

My opinion might change after I have read the whole series, but at the moment I am not sure what all the fuss is about. This book is famous for not being read, and also for being recommended by teachers to their students, who almost invariably do not read it. Which is hardly surprising since all volumes in the series combined produce a mammoth text.

There are interesting things about it. The author uses a stream of consciousness style, which is quite unusual. What is also unusual is the way he seems to insert himself into a story that must at least in part be pure fiction, and you do very much feel that he is writing about himself, since the authors stream of consciousness often carries him to the innermost thoughts of other people, the narrative flowing seamlessly from one characters stream of consciousness to another's. This created a dreamlike effect.

Unfortunately it is a rather boring dream. However, the book does serve as a window. People writing in their own time and place have created time capsules, time machines, that let you visit a different mind. Other than that there does not seem to be much reason to recommend this book to anybody.

Not for everyone, but beautifully read

If you want or need a 'story' or 'plot' of any kind, steer clear of Proust. A multilayered series of extraordinarily long sentences on the minutiae of memory, conversation, thought and human experience is what we have here. If you know what to expect this is an excellent reading.

Classical excellence

I was hooked by the end of chapter one. This book is so beautiful and eloquently written. Parisian chic at its best.

Dull, dull, DULL!

Tried 3 times to get past the first chapter; fell asleep twice and the third time I found myself screaming at my player. It felt akin to being stuck on a long haul flight sitting next to a double glazing salesman from Slough with a penchant for mid 20th century bus tickets.

2 of 6 people found this review helpful

No one can return my temps perdu

This hurt. After years of my philosophy lecturers and literary heroes hammering me to read this I thought I'd give it a try in audio form. After 10 hours (which beats most attempts in a page-to-hour comparison with most folks) I gave in. Its not hard or complex or dense. Its just painfully flowery and dull. Perhaps it was the smug brown tones of the narrator, but I can't accept that any great novel could include a whole repetitious section on how hilarious it is when someone forgets that its Saturday, or that any human (fictional or real) could really give that much of a toss about asparagus. Precisely how many auntie does this guy have anyway? And do the all have roughly the same personality, just as every male he knows seems to be surly?

I'd say I've wasted 10 hours, but I've saved myself a lifetime by knowing I won't read the other volumes.

1 of 4 people found this review helpful