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Proust in the age of TikTok
The French writer’s seven-volume magnum opus was a challenging choice for a book club — but its evocation of the human psyche makes essential reading for our times
TL;DR
- A book club in Sydenham, London, discussed Marcel Proust's "In Search of Lost Time," a seven-volume, 1.3 million-word novel.
- The novel, written between 1913-1927, offers a panorama of Parisian society and explores themes of memory, love, and the human psyche.
- Despite its demanding nature, the book club found "In Search of Lost Time" to be essential reading for understanding contemporary issues.
- The author highlights Proust's ability to explore complex trains of thought and human behavior, aligning with modern neuroscience on memory.
- The novel's enduring value lies in its investigation of solitude and the exactitude of individual consciousness.
- The author and scholars suggest Proust's work encourages persistence and provides richer perspectives on life, with the possibility of re-reading indefinitely.