In Search of Lost Time Volume 6: The Fugitive

So this volume I spent all night reading - yet again. I'm really tired, but it was well worth it. Also, I'm having a re-read of Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin. It's great. This volume was a little more mundane than the others and felt generally shorter. Also, for some reason - some books put Volume 5 and 6 together in Volume 5. I can see why, but then again I don't.

Characters:

There are now marriages taking place, but now my favourite character is Aime. Aime is sent to search for Albertine and find out what she is doing. Aime reports back with the fact that Albertine is in Balbec with friends. It is quite depressing that the narrator is so desperate to find out what happened to Albertine. He spends most of this volume lamenting their relationship. 

Themes:

The theme of love is quite prominent and we can see that love is making the narrator almost lose his own mind. His wife took off to Balbec and isn't coming back - he spends his time sad about her loss - he also asks someone to spy on her and find out where she is. We can see that the narrator may not have shown very much love to Albertine herself, but he does care about her whereabouts. I seriously don't know whether I should dislike the narrator as much as I do. 

Storyline:

The storyline to this volume is all about marriages and arrangements. Swann is marrying Saint-Loup (I think), but Saint-Loup is having an affair with Morel. We also find out why Albertine left the narrator - it was because her aunt wanted another man for her. Oh dear. 

Verdict:

I give this volume 8/9.

2/3 for characters: Albertine wasn't in it enough. 

100% for themes: Th continuation of themes without overusing them is a forte of Proust. 

100% for storyline: It was hard to keep up with names - but I think I got there in the end. 

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street

This novel by Natasha Pulley I initially picked up because it was the only colourful book on a shelf of Foyles Bookstore in Brum Central. I picked it up and read it. Immediately afterwards - I'm trying to get as many of my friends to read it as possible. This is just a truly remarkable book. It's a YA novel that sounds pretty and light without being pretentious. So hard to find - but as rare as it is, this book is still amazing for a lovely 'night-time with tea' read. 

Characters: 

My favourite character was Thaniel Steepleton because I felt as if I was finding things out whilst Thaniel was. It is always nice to have a character that is seemingly on the same page you are. A sort of half dramatic irony thing - as many character seem to know what's going on. But, from finding the pocket watch on his pillow - Thaniel was finding things out as we were in the novel. Pulley just writes the character so well that there is no way that I can suggest improvement. It was a truly three dimensional character in which all three dimensions were only revealed by the end of the novel. 

Themes:

I loved the theme of mystery. Not only with Thaniel finding the watch, but also with Grace disguising herself in the Oxford Library. Keita Mori is definitely the most mysterious character though - always only revealing what needs to be revealed, never anything more; or less.  

Storyline:

The storyline was absolute magic. The whole mystery of things just made the language of the story seem airy and light - when really there was a juxtaposing deeper meaning to the book. The whole aspect of secrets and disguise give it a Victorian Novel feel. Most of the storyline is the atmosphere in this novel - and because of this, I would more than happily give it another read.

Verdict:

I give this book 9/9

100% for characters: There is not a character that I can say I truly hated. I loved aspects of characters, I disliked aspects of characters - and this is what made them more human to me. Brilliant character creation is upheld in this novel.

100% for themes: The theme of mystery and secrecy is amazingly interwoven to the storyline. I think it gives the story a gripping feel - revealing little by little so that you can only possibly know everything when you hit the end of the novel. Even then, there are still "what ifs?" This was such a well-done aspect of the novel - it was my favourite reason to read it. 

100% for storyline: A lovely magical read - a little bit different to what I normally read. I felt a sense of achievement after finishing this and cannot wait to read it again. Just to recreate the feeling of reading it for the first time and hoping to take away something new. 

In Search of Lost Time Volume 5: The Prisoner and The Fugitive *Spoiler Alert*

Albertine continues to be a woman of freedom and doing whatever she wants - even though she is now married to the narrator. Also, over the course of these reviews - have you noticed how much I acknowledge Albertine? She's married now - so there's another turning point in her life. I seem to be more interested in her than the narrator. 

THIS IS UNTIL THE MARRIAGE ENDS! OH MY GOD NO! D:

Fact: I was up all night reading this. I have very recently started Volume 6. We're making good time, but I'm now delirious. 

Characters:

The best character is still Albertine. She is such a quiet woman, but still remains headstrong and true to herself. She seems to be scared of the narrator ever so slightly - as if now that she is married she feels the need to seek approval. I think Albertine and her marriage symbolise a state of regression in traditional values; even the narrator seems to believe that Albertine should be interested in his approval. Even though he is madly in love with her - he thinks that she should live only to impress him. But, by Albertine's silence, we can see that it is not her destiny to do so. 

Themes:

I love the theme of traditional values. It makes Albertine look like more of a heroine - but also makes the narrator seem like a fool for trying to tame her. The gender imbalances make it almost impossible for Albertine to go on living with the narrator. It is clear from the statement of marriage that the entire relationship is doomed. 

Storyline:

I think that the storyline for this particular volume is that "all marriage will inevitably fail". The silences and abrupt leavings of Albertine symbolise this. There was once where she would leave somewhere else in order to visit the narrator - and now she leaves the narrator abruptly to visit someone/somewhere else. These strange happenings seemingly continue - sending the marriage in a downward spiral, until she finally leaves him. 

Verdict:

I give this volume 9. 

100% for characters: I still seemingly love Albertine. 

100% for themes: The theme of traditional values has not yet been used to explain situations. I like how it hasn't been overused. 

100% for storyline: I think, as there wasn't too much going on, the storyline was simple to understand and very thought provoking. 

In Search of Lost Time Volume 4: Sodom and Gomorrah *Spoiler Alert*

This was my favourite volume - I only finished this around half an hour ago and I can say that the ending hit me so god damn hard. I loved it! Just about to start Volume 5, so that will be here soon. But, for now - Sodom and Gomorrah was a brilliantly written piece of catharsis through language. 

Characters: 

Always, Albertine. Albertine has been one of my favourite female characters because she takes all of her matters into her own hands. She is her own person - and as a reader, you really see her come into her own and take real charge of her life until the end of the volume. The narrator is final - he must marry Albertine! 

ALBERTINE AND THE NARRATOR MUST MARRY!!!

Themes:

Love was a massive theme in this one. Full of lust and promiscuity - this volume is rightly named! I really liked how the narrator refused to condone or chastise such behaviours, but stood there like an on-looker most of the time. 

Storyline:

The storyline to this volume completely contradicts the ending - you go through it thinking that the narrator is going to give into his surroundings and then HE WANTS TO MARRY ALBERTINE! This is the ending to the volume we've all been waiting for. 

Verdict:

I give this volume 9. 

100% for characters: Albertine is always 100%. 

100% for themes: I just seem to love the self-will of the narrator and his free-inspired mind. 

100% for storyline: That ending made me so god damn happy! About bloody time mate! 

In Search of Lost Time Volume 3: The Guermantes Way

This volume was more about family drama than the previous one. Here we have family relations becoming strained and aristocracy becoming confused of where they stand. A good light volume compared to the one I experienced previously. As I said before - I'm actually on Volume 4 at the moment, sorry for the lateness. 

Characters:

My favourite character is still Albertine. She seems to mature quite a lot through this volume and comes to visit the narrator whilst he is being told to ask for the hand of Stemaria. Although the narrator is pressured into asking for Stemaria's hand - he still holds Albertine quite close to his heart. Albertine is a woman who is seemingly headstrong and yet still has to overcome every emotion imaginable to the human experience - especially when she is in love. She is like a Jane Eyre heroine - just much more interesting. 

Themes:

The theme of love comes to mind here. But not only the relationship between Albertine and the narrator - but also the pressure of a relationship between the narrator and Stemaria. There is also relative love - the relation between the narrator and his grandmother (who unfortunately dies) is accounted in the way that he explains how she reverted to her youthful beauty in her final moments of life and seconds of complete death. Beautiful explanations with riveting metaphors that stir up all kinds of Romanticist imagination - revived perfectly in the 20s. 

Storyline:

Now, it was a little difficult with some of the new characters - but the storyline was lighter and more love-focussed than the previous volume, or the first one. There is a wider perspective of Albertine's relationship with the narrator now that he is being pressured towards Stemaria. It is a brilliant three dimensional love story. 

Verdict:

I give this volume 9. 

100% for characters: I just think Albertine was more mature in this volume and got a good part in the story. 

100% for themes: It was more Romantic in this volume - especially with themes of love, death and relationships - I think there is serious potential in this book as a whole. 

100% for storyline: I really did like that it didn't move too quickly and everything was perceptive - I believe that the outlook the reader gets of the whole story is different every single time some event seems to change our narrator. Proust got this one right. 

Exquisite Corpse

Well, this was horrific. I did enjoy some of the graphic stuff - but seriously, after a while, it became a little predictable and repetitive. 

Characters: 

My favourite character was probably Andrew, seeing at the beginning he fakes his own death before killing the people who work and the morgue. It's a very strange book - but this serial killer seems to be the only person who actually fits in with the horror descriptions. I sort of couldn't stand Luke; Jay and Tran were okay, but Andrew was the best character. 

Themes:

Unfortunately, this book didn't have very many themes to choose from - so I'll go with graphic horror.  I think Brite wanted this to have the effect of shock and surprise. After a while - I'll say again - this wore off completely and became a sort of drag to read. A good theme to use, but it was just overused. 

Storyline:

Okay, well I really didn't think much of the storyline; again, the same things kept happening over and over again until it just became predictable to read. I understand that the killings are horrific and terrifying, but the overused graphic horror seemed to override and underlying story that Brite was trying to put out. 

Verdict:

I give this book 3/9

2/3 for characters: Andrew was a very well designed character and his dialogue was pretty good too, especially when he was talking to others. Also, the fact that he faked his death was pretty cool, I thought. 

1/3 for themes: It was used - but then it was overused. 

0/3 for storyline: Not great and very repetitive. 

In Search of Lost Time Volume 2: Within a Budding Grove

Please note: there are two translations to this: I have read the one entitled "Within a Budding Grove" - there is also one called "In the Shadow of Young Girls Flowering". Both are the same text. 

This was slightly more interesting than the first volume. At the moment, I'm actually on Volume 4 - but with the whole "Atlas Shrugged" thing going on - have been to busy to update at night. Also, I watched Bo Burnham's "Make Happy" on Netflix - I suggest you give it a watch - it's brilliant! So, this is why Volume 2 has come so late. 

Characters: 

My favourite character in this volume was Madame Swann and I believe that her social status and the uncertainty of it was probably the most three dimensional thing about her. She continues to be unsure about it - as does the narrator - the reader gets the feeling that she is inferior, not because of her social status, BUT because of the uncertainty in who she is. Love it. 

Themes: 

Okay, so it's not a theme - it's a symbol: the Champ Elysees. This symbol is made to represent a sort of waiting for hopefulness. As this monument represents the hopefulness of state and people in France, I thought that the narrator anticipating and going on a trip to this wonder was probably the best idea for this novel. 

Storyline:

My favourite thing about the storyline is when the narrator falls in love with Albertine. Purely because this is what we've all been waiting for - then the end image of the volume (which I will not spoil for you!) fits perfectly into place. 

Verdict:

I give this volume 9. 

100% for characters: Yes, the class struggle is real. 

100% for themes: Okay, fine - technically symbols. But, it's still valid!

100% for storyline: A big improvement from the first volume!