What it's all about

Welcome to my blog!! Join me on a 365-day journey of discovery and "re-discovery" as I take up the monumental challenge of reading one of the greatest pieces of literature ever written, and in French!!
The idea was spurred by Julie Powell's "Julie & Julia" and my somewhat crazy idea to supplement my Rosetta Stone French lessons by reading Proust's "In Search..." in the original French.
Several people have looked askance (perhaps also entertaining the idea of getting me one of those nice white jackets with the sleeves that tie in back...) and said, "You've NO idea of what you're getting yourself into."
Well! Let me say that if you know exactly what you're getting into then you're NOT having an adventure. And I mean to have a GREAT adventure!!
I've absolutely no idea where this will lead, but then again, that's really the idea, isn't it?
If you've ever thought about reading this amazing work, but been intimidated by its sheer gargantuan proportions, then by all means, please join me and perhaps you'll learn a bit along the way about the fascinating man that Proust was, the times in which he lived, and perhaps find your own inspiration to pick it up anew and dive in!!
Bienvenue à m'aventure! Allons-y!!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Bienvenue and Welcome!!

 DAY 1

Welcome to my new blog "Michel & Marcel: 365 Days of Proust"!!

I'm sure you must be wondering what the title of the blog means....Well!! I've always wanted to be able to read Proust in French (you may ask "Why, oh why????), and unbeknownst to me, Rosetta Stone somehow knew this too (they so smart!!) and very kindly offered their 5-level Totale French program to me at nearly 50% off! How could I resist??

And now, two weeks into the total immersion, and thanks to the unexpectedly enthusiastic but most welcome participation of my French-speaking friends on Facebook, I had this totally koo-koo, fou idea, a lark, really, to do what Julie Powell did in "Julie and Julia," but with Proust instead: challenge myself to read at least one page of Proust a day for a year, in the original French!! 

It was a joke, meant to entertain, really; but the more I thought about it, the more appealing it became. I thought, "What an adventure this could be!!" (and maybe, just maybe, a movie deal, too!!)! And why not share it and invite the rest of the world to suffer along with me?

Now, many you French-speaking people out there are probably already shaking your heads and saying, "Mon dieu!! Il est complétement fou!!" And perhaps you are correct. But I do not expect to get through all seven volumes in a year...although who knows! Perhaps I'll get struck by lightning and become an instant French savant. Or not.

In any case, I mean to have les bon temps and am very much looking forward to seeing where this journey will take me. It is certain to be a roller coaster ride, and if that is your thing, I heartily invite you to join me!! 

And bring madeleines!!

À bientôt!!

Michel

Next installment: let's find out a bit about dear Marcel, shall we? And some photos of Le grand préparation!!!
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