Here's my reading journey through the first volume of Remembrance of Things Past. This edition includes two of Proust's novels: Swann's Way and Within a Budding Grove.
You know when a book cover compels you to dive into its contents? Yeah, this was that book for me… or so I thought. It’s HEFTY—thick as a Bible and could probably kill someone. Reading a philosophy book wasn’t on my bingo card this year (or any year, really), except maybe back in my student days when it was mandatory. I might’ve been way too excited. I almost bought a physical copy.
As the title suggests, I didn't finish this book. In order to approach this DNF review objectively, this review is divided between the reasons why this book captured my attention and why I lost interest.
Why did I pick this book?
Writing Style - Proust’s impeccable prose and writing style have captured my attention. I am but a mortal who finds it difficult to resist a beautifully written book. Hence, here we are.
Classic Literature - I haven’t read that many classic books, but I’ve always been curious about them. I accidentally came across this one on a library shelf. Proust is a famous classic author, and that made me curious as to why. Hence, the decision to give this book a try.
Why did I DNF this book?
Plot - I struggle with the narrator's endless, meandering recollections of memories, jumping across nonlinear timelines. Thirty pages in, and I find myself hate-reading. With this hollow block of a book, I can only summon the patience of a saint to hate-read it all the way through. Frustrating is an understatement.
Depressing Tone - As a recurring pattern, I’ve once again become a willing victim of yet another dead author’s writings. This is The Bell Jar all over again! The plot? An isolated narrator reflecting on the events around him. And honestly? It just made me sad. And you know what? No, thank you. What do I gain from this—vocabulary enrichment exercises? Lyrical prose appreciation? A desperate attempt to sound like an intellectual, prying for deeper meaning amidst a swirling vortex of ambiguity? Maybe.
I really wanted to like this book! Unfortunately, I knew the book was too boring for me when even beautiful writing couldn’t sustain my interest.
