Book Club/Social

[daveross]

My guess is it will be ok, Plum. Please join us.

[douglasb41]

hi everybody...

thanks for RSVPing. there appear to be 6 confirmed so far. that's fine.

Please bring the book to the meet .

best,
doug

[douglasb41]

Hey All,

the second meeting of the book club went well, but we have decided to choose a new book for our next meeting.

If there are no objections, I have a suggestion: the French author, Marcel Proust.

The book is Volume I of Proust's autobiographical memoir, otherwise called "Swann's Way." Surprisingly, the revised translation is quite readable, and as it deals with issues of memory, childhood, experience, love, etc..., it is very relevant for today.

The edition I have is the Modern Library Classic. The full title is In Search of Lost Time. Volume I. Swann's Way. 2003.

Dymocks does not have copies, but could order it within 2-3 weeks. I will check with Page One as well. I bought my copy on Amazon.

Finally, the French original and English translation are available online at Marcel Proust: free web books, online. So, if you want to take a look first to see what you are up against, here is the place. If you do read the online version, I should point out that I fo und it rougher going than the Modern Library revised edition, which put things in a more conversational form.

[CoolCrystal]

Hi Douglas & All,

The second meeting was indeed good and this second book choice seems pretty good too. I called Page One yesterday and they don't have this particular version in stock so I guess we'll have to order thru Amazon - which will take around 1 week to 10 days to reach HK.

So two questions, shall we still have our next meeting on 6 Jul (might not have that much time to read the book), if so we should read till which chapter? I think it's better if we can all be on the same page next time.

[daveross]

As the work is divided into four sections, perhaps we can commit to the first section for the next meeting and then the entire work at the following meet up?

Also, there's an e-book version of the 1922 translation here:
http://manybooks.net/titles/proustmaetext048swnn10.html

[mildredgogeo]

where will you guys meet in july? i wanna join.

[douglasb41]

Dave's idea is fine. We can finish the first section before the meeting.

An earlier translation is available for free online, but is more difficult in terms of language. So be advised.

Look forward to seeing you all.

Best,
Doug

[Lunee]

Weird. I was able to pick up a copy of a it in Page One Time Square but when they checked the computer they should have a few copies available elsewhere as well.

Which page one did you go to?

[douglasb41]

Hey All,

I just want to confirm that our next meeting is this coming Monday, July 6 at 7:30 at Cafe O. I agree we should finish up to the first section, where the narrator eats the cookie.

For people with the older online book edition, that is the end of the overture section (I think?) and for others it is Section II of Combray.

See you then.
best,
Doug

[douglasb41]

Also, for the next book, has anyone read Isabel Allende? I would like to ensure diversity in our selections and someone strongly recommended one of her books.