OK, so I'm stuck. J'ai un crise de créativité.
I knew it would happen, but I was still not prepared for it - I feel terrible. Now that the MAHvelous madeleine scene is over, I'm in a bit of a slump. A bit of post-partum depression, I suppose.
However, I am finding his description of Combray to be quite amazing, though I do wish that he could write just one, just ONE simple, easy sentence that does not have 50 subordinate clauses nested in it...as much as I love a challenge, there are times when I find this stream of consciousness style quite tiring, even in English.
But, I am used to consuming books in large gulps, like my bad habit of eating too quickly; I need to slow down and learn to savor the experience a bit more. Proust is definitely to be enjoyed slowly, in les petites gorgées, rolling the phrases around on one's tongue, allowing the flavors to develop.
Of course, the town of Illiers, on which Proust based his imaginary town of Combray, was re-baptized as Illiers-Combray on the 100th anniversary of Proust's birth. It is indeed a rather small, medieval-looking town of apparently no repute other than that of Proust's having stayed there in his aunt's house. Some say that the addition of "Combray" to Illiers was merely a means of attracting attention, and hopefully, commerce, to this allegedly unremarkable town. Néanmoins (I love that word!), I would like to visit when I make my pilgrimage next year, as I have a weakness for places with ancient histories, having grown up in a country with such a comparatively short one.
There is something very mysterious and resonant to me about places and things that have been around for a very long time. My first experience with such places was when I visited the temples in Kyoto which have been around for over a millennium and are mentioned in the Tale of Genji. It was as though one could sense the spirit of all the souls who had inhabited and tread on these hallowed grounds; and it felt old...I'm sure it is the same kind of sensation when walking into a cathedral or castle in Europe that has been around for centuries and centuries.
But I digress...the influence, I am sure, of Monsieur Proust. Although I am not sure if it is not digression, but rather, regression in his case.
Well, it appears that the words came out somehow. Whether it is anything worth reading is another question. But one cannot be perfect all the time.
À bientôt,
-Michel
No comments:
Post a Comment
In the "profile" drop-down menu, choose "Name/URL" if you are not a registered user of any of the services listed; you may type name or URL, or both; you may also post as Anonymous.