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They're not that unfinished at all and one wishes that some of their descriptions would actually even be shorter in The Fugitive despite it being the shortest book already, plus arguably you wouldn't even know the conceit of the novel for certain until you've read Time Regained. It's just that sometimes they have the amusing circumstance of the protagonist slowly slipping into dementia when he forgets that he already mentioned one or two details a hundred pages before or so

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At least you can say you've read Proust now.

I have a weird traction to this book. I mean I’ve never read it, except some quotes, but still I feel like it’s something that might answer many questions I’ve been asking myself and couldn’t find answers. Idk have you ever felt this way? Like solely from the synopsis you feel like it’s your book and you already know that you’ll like it? Not the story alone but the style, philosophy, morality and etc. When people ask me what are my goals in life I’m always lost for words cuz I don’t really have any, but deep inside I feel like reading these books is a small goal of mine. Like it’ll be a serious achievement for me. Idk you can call me autistic i don’t really care anymore.

Me again. Also there was this one philosopher, actually there’s a video of him sitting by Proust’s grave and drinking wine and musing about him and this book. You know he had this look of, well, not sadness, but peaceful melancholy. He said that Proust captured the essence of life, that he did the impossible. I don’t remember his exact words tbqh but that’s the gist of it. Then he tipped his fingers in wine and sprinkled it over his grave. Idk why but that gesture seemed so beautiful and profound

It's easy to see why you feel that way. In Search of Lost Time's size and reputation make it seem like Proust embraces all of life. People tend to have a fuzzy notion of what it's about, so to them it's all promise and potential. You come to other books with an idea of what they're "about" that constrains expectations. Moby-Dick is about whaling. Ulysses, a day in Dublin. In Search of Lost Time's renown is so lofty and vague that it's easy to see why people might tackle it seeking salvation.

>comfily reading isolt in bed, it just rained and is cooling down
>get to the part where young Marcel's roving eye rests upon the Duchess of G in the church and her pussy becomes uncomfortably hot
>inspired to join in, I remove my pants
>suddenly hear my neighbor shrieking "get the fuck back inside, you bitch-ass little faggot, yeah, I knew you weren't gonna do shit!"
>sweet, maybe she and her boyfriend are finally going to murder each other
>look out, no, she's just telling her 4 year old to stop playing in the street
>immersion ruined
anyway thanks for reading

Anyone remember that scene when the narrator brought a random little girl from the street into his room and cried to her about his bitch and then got the police called to his house despite apparently doing really nothing to her and being told off by the police commissioner not for doing anything wrong but from not being discreet enough in picking up little girls? Strange but good stuff

You painted quite a picture there.

Currently in bed reading swanns way. I’ve read most of it.
But I haven’t quite “connected” with it yet? I’m 3/4 of the way finished and I’m afraid I won’t find it relatable/interesting.

I really love Salinger for preference. Could someone enlighten me

Yes. Nothing happens.

No, things definitely do happen. The book is regarded and I enjoy it. But I don’t understand why its regarded so highly besides it’s vast text. What is so meaningful in the book besides French aristocrats and caste virtues and kissing

i absolutely lold, describe your neighbours in detail please

If you're looking for meaning you might as well skip ahead to Time Regained where Proust lays bare for all the idiots the thesis of his novel is plain speech. However, the impact of it won't be the same as you don't experience the passage of time as you read the rest of the book. Each book presents a different social gradation of the mind and society of the time, sometimes multiple transformations in just a hundred pages. The first book is pure sensory experience (and large scale foreshadowing) in the description of growing up and realizing things in himself and the outside world: a key passage is the one where the narrator says he will never be a great writer as he realizes how materialistic his sensation of the world is, not yet being aware of the idealistic nature of memory, and this theme gradually evolves and the conclusion of the novel will hit you with it if you haven't gradually realized "the point" of the novel while you're reading, that's literally half the fun of the book as you get to slowly realize the point of it while the narrator is at the same time.

Salinger is a completely different writer, why don't you let Proust stand on his own terms and Salinger on his?

No I wasn’t comparing the two, it was just a reference( though it has no meaning and I don’t know why I mentioned it). I will go ahead and finish the book in its total entirety.
Thank you for you’re comments

planning on reading just Swann's Way in the near future. Of the three most commonly recommended translations (Davis, Moncrieff, Moncrieff revised) which one should I read?