Scan barcode
nearnik's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
msaari's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Heinäkuun Marcel Proustin kohdalla osasin odottaa vähän raskaampaa luku-urakkaa, onhan Sodoma ja Gomorra I-II suomennetun sarjan paksuin yksittäinen nide. 552-sivuisen kirjan parissa menikin hyvinkin kolme viikkoa, eli valtaosa heinäkuusta. Jako kahteen osaan on tässä melko epätasainen: ykkösosa on alle 40-sivuinen ja loput kirjasta on sitten kakkososaa.
Ykkösosassa kertoja pääsee salakuuntelemaan paroni de Charlusin ja räätäli Jupienin kohtaamista. Tikkaille olisi voinut nousta ja avata tuuletusluukun kuullakseen paremmin, mutta kertoja arastelee metelöintiä. Mutta suotta:
Sillä siitä mitä Jupienin puolelta ensi hätään kuulin, ja se supistui epäselviin äännähdyksiin, saattoi päätellä että montakaan sanaa ei tullut vaihdetuksi. Tosin ne äännähdykset olivat niin rajuja, että ellei niihin olisi aina yhtynyt samantapainen valitus oktaavia ylempänä, olisi voinut luulla että jotakuta parastaikaa kuristettiin viereisessä huoneessa, minkä jälkeen murhaaja peseytyi yhdessä kuolleistanousseen uhrinsa kanssa hävittääkseen rikoksensa jäljet. Myöhemmin päättelin, että jos mikä on yhtä kovaäänistä kuin kärsimys niin nautinto, etenkin kun siihen liittyy – lapsensaamisen pelosta ei tässä tapauksessa voinut olla kysymys Kultaisen legendan epätodennäköisestä esimerkistä huolimatta – välitön tarve siistiytyä.
Kertojahan todisti lesbistä rakkautta jo ensimmäisessä osassa, mutta nyt hänen homotutkansa saa melkoisen potkustartin. Homoseksuaalisuus on kantava teema kirjassa, niin miesten kuin naisten osalta, mutta suhtautuminen vaihtelee. Miesten välinen homoseksuaalisuus nähdään ilmiönä, joka yhteiskunnassa on, johon voidaan suhtautua vähän paheksuen, mutta jos homot ovat salaa keskenään, asia on ihan ok. Naisten välistä homoseksuaalisuutta taas miehet kauhistelevat ja pelkäävät liki hysteerisesti.
Kertoja palaa jälleen Balbeciin, joka saakin toimia näyttämönä isolle osalle kirjan tapahtumista. Lukija pääsee taas tutustumaan Pariisista tuttuihin Verdurineihin, sillä he ovat vuokranneet linnan Balbecin seudulta ja kestitsevät siellä sisäpiiriään. Ohjelmassa on paljon paroni de Charlusin ristiriitaisen ja räiskyvän toiminnan tarkastelemista hänen homoseksuaalisuutensa valossa. Charlusin vierailu Verdurinien päivällisillä Balbecissa on melkoinen episodi.
Kertoja puolestaan näyttäytyy edelleen varsin kammottavana tyyppinä, erityisesti suhteessaan naisiin. Melkoisen välttelevältä näyttää toiminta ja etenkin Albertinen kanssa kertoja käy aikamoista peliä, jossa vuoroin lähennytään ja vuoroin vetäydytään tai työnnetään pois. Suuresti kiinnostaa paronitar Putbusin kamarineidon saapuminen Balbeciin; luotettavan lähteen mukaan kyseinen kamarineito työskentelee myös ilotaloissa, eli olisi kertojalle helppo, mutta laadukas saalis. Ei mitään ihana ihminen tämä kertojamme, mutta lukijana pyristely ristiriitaisten intohimojen keskellä on toki viihdyttävää. Lopulta pelko Albertinen lesbisistä taipumuksista saa kertojan paniikinomaiseen lähentymiseen.
Pidin alun kankeammin etenevien osien jälkeen Guermantesin tietä jokseenkin helppolukuisena ja sujuvana. Sodoma ja Gomorra oli taas paluuta työläämpään Proustiin. Ei kai inhimillisyyden syvyyksien luotaamisen tarvitsekaan helppoa ja yksinkertaista olla. Osa Proustin viehätyksestä nousee varmasti siitä, miten ison työn takana lukeminen on. Sodoma ja Gomorra onkin sitten viimeinen osa, jonka Proust sai täysin valmiiksi asti. Seuraavasta osasta alkavat sitten postuumit osat.
---
In July, I expected Marcel Proust's Sodom and Gomorrah I-II to be a demanding read, as it is the longest volume in the Finnish translation series. The 552-page book took me nearly three weeks to finish. The division into two parts is uneven: the first part is less than 40 pages, with the rest making up the second part.
In the first part, the narrator eavesdrops on a meeting between Baron de Charlus and tailor Jupien. Although he could have climbed up to open a vent for better hearing, he hesitates, fearing noise. Unnecessarily so, it turns out.
While the narrator had already witnessed lesbian love in the first volume, his "gaydar" gets a significant boost here. Homosexuality, both male and female, is a central theme, though attitudes towards it vary. Male homosexuality is seen as an accepted but somewhat disapproved phenomenon, provided it remains private. Female homosexuality, however, incites near-hysterical fear and horror in men.
The narrator returns to Balbec, the setting for much of the book's events. Readers reacquaint themselves with the Verdurins from Paris, now hosting their circle in a rented castle near Balbec. Much of the focus is on Baron de Charlus' flamboyant and contradictory behaviour in light of his homosexuality. His visit to the Verdurins' dinner in Balbec is particularly notable.
The narrator continues to be quite an unpleasant character, especially in his dealings with women. His interactions with Albertine are a tumultuous game of approach and retreat. He is also intrigued by the arrival of Baroness Putbus' maid, who reputedly also works in brothels, making her an easy yet high-quality target. The narrator is far from likeable, but his conflicting passions are undeniably entertaining. Ultimately, his panic over Albertine's potential lesbian tendencies drives him to a desperate closeness.
After the initially slow sections, I found The Guermantes Way relatively easy and smooth to read. Sodom and Gomorrah marked a return to a more challenging Proust. Delving into the depths of humanity is not meant to be easy or simple. Part of Proust's allure is certainly the effort required to read his work. Sodom and Gomorrah is the last volume Proust completed. The following parts are posthumous publications.
---
In July, I expected Marcel Proust's Sodom and Gomorrah I-II to be a demanding read, as it is the longest volume in the Finnish translation series. The 552-page book took me nearly three weeks to finish. The division into two parts is uneven: the first part is less than 40 pages, with the rest making up the second part.
In the first part, the narrator eavesdrops on a meeting between Baron de Charlus and tailor Jupien. Although he could have climbed up to open a vent for better hearing, he hesitates, fearing noise. Unnecessarily so, it turns out.
While the narrator had already witnessed lesbian love in the first volume, his "gaydar" gets a significant boost here. Homosexuality, both male and female, is a central theme, though attitudes towards it vary. Male homosexuality is seen as an accepted but somewhat disapproved phenomenon, provided it remains private. Female homosexuality, however, incites near-hysterical fear and horror in men.
The narrator returns to Balbec, the setting for much of the book's events. Readers reacquaint themselves with the Verdurins from Paris, now hosting their circle in a rented castle near Balbec. Much of the focus is on Baron de Charlus' flamboyant and contradictory behaviour in light of his homosexuality. His visit to the Verdurins' dinner in Balbec is particularly notable.
The narrator continues to be quite an unpleasant character, especially in his dealings with women. His interactions with Albertine are a tumultuous game of approach and retreat. He is also intrigued by the arrival of Baroness Putbus' maid, who reputedly also works in brothels, making her an easy yet high-quality target. The narrator is far from likeable, but his conflicting passions are undeniably entertaining. Ultimately, his panic over Albertine's potential lesbian tendencies drives him to a desperate closeness.
After the initially slow sections, I found The Guermantes Way relatively easy and smooth to read. Sodom and Gomorrah marked a return to a more challenging Proust. Delving into the depths of humanity is not meant to be easy or simple. Part of Proust's allure is certainly the effort required to read his work. Sodom and Gomorrah is the last volume Proust completed. The following parts are posthumous publications.
suchasuckerforbooks's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
charlottesometimes's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
truncarlos's review against another edition
5.0
¿Hola? ¿Y este pedazo de cliffhanger? No, Marcel, deja de meterte en berenjenales, deja a las lesbianas en paz, búscate una heterosexual o quédate soltero y deja de hacer dramas, por los clavos de Cristo.
Bromas aparte: sigo alucinando. Sigo sorprendiéndome. Sigo viéndome reflejado en aspectos de mí mismo que no conocía y que Marcel saca a la luz sin preguntarte ni avisarte. Sigo riéndome, a carcajadas. Sigo llorando, sigo queriendo consolar a Charlus y pegarle una bofetada al protagonista. Sigo interesándome por asuntos que nunca pensé que lo harían, como la etimología geográfica, el dreyfusismo o la aristocracia francesa inventada.
He atravesado el ecuador de LA OBRA. Y sigo queriendo leerla. No hemos acabado, Marcel.
Bromas aparte: sigo alucinando. Sigo sorprendiéndome. Sigo viéndome reflejado en aspectos de mí mismo que no conocía y que Marcel saca a la luz sin preguntarte ni avisarte. Sigo riéndome, a carcajadas. Sigo llorando, sigo queriendo consolar a Charlus y pegarle una bofetada al protagonista. Sigo interesándome por asuntos que nunca pensé que lo harían, como la etimología geográfica, el dreyfusismo o la aristocracia francesa inventada.
He atravesado el ecuador de LA OBRA. Y sigo queriendo leerla. No hemos acabado, Marcel.
marxgaux's review against another edition
5.0
proust really said i’m going to create a narrator that is SO obsessed with gay men and lesbians-
sydsnot71's review against another edition
4.0
Again, I think 'In Search of Lost Time' will only come into full focus at the end of the whole read. Once again Proust's book is packed full of all aspects of life. In this volume homosexuality, lesbianism, grief, jealousy, art, landscape, the meaning of place names, tr\ains, snobbery...etc.
We also see more of M. de Charlus, who is a magnificent fictional - semi-fictional? - character. There are titles and parties. Proust raises gossip to an art form. There's more humour here than you might have expected in a 'difficult' book.
Yes, sometimes I find myself irritated by the narrator's ridiculous jealous of Albertine, who he thinks is dangerously flirtatious with his friend Saint-Loup, but suspects is also a lesbian.
It's also fascinating to get impressions of a modernising world. We get cars and a glimpse of an aeroplane.
But magnificently packed with the 'joy of things being various'.
We also see more of M. de Charlus, who is a magnificent fictional - semi-fictional? - character. There are titles and parties. Proust raises gossip to an art form. There's more humour here than you might have expected in a 'difficult' book.
Yes, sometimes I find myself irritated by the narrator's ridiculous jealous of Albertine, who he thinks is dangerously flirtatious with his friend Saint-Loup, but suspects is also a lesbian.
It's also fascinating to get impressions of a modernising world. We get cars and a glimpse of an aeroplane.
But magnificently packed with the 'joy of things being various'.
keatsratbaby's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i have 0 talent, all people are evil, 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝔂 is an understatement, im going to read the next 3, have an existential crisis (in a good way) and then kill myself (in a bad way)
dukegregory's review against another edition
2.0
Most of this is entirely pompous and vapid. Obviously, the writing is beautiful but to no end that differs from what the other three-thousand pages have done. The first part and the section entitled "The Intermittencies of the Heart" are playful and funny or breathtakingly beautiful reflections on grief and nostalgia and the ways in which we all perpetually live in a state of cognitive dissonance when going back to places we have been or even attempt to process the loss of a loved one. I really hope the next volume/s pick up where volume three did (aka at the height of Proust's powers). Genuinely, nothing happens. Nothing is happening for seven-hundred plus pages!!! Awful. Boring. Pretty though.
kirsten0929's review against another edition
5.0
Here we are introduced to some gay characters and how they move through the social worlds of our narrator. Speaking of whom, this volume continues to reinforce my negative feelings about him. He is quite charming, and gentlemanly to those in his various social circles, but is a real a**hole to the “love interests” in his life (lying, jealous, manipulative). This was unexpected, but also makes it so much more interesting! Such a pleasure to be immersed in Proust’s world; already underway with volume five, The Captive.