>>25456379
haven't finished all of Lost Time yet so my opinion might change, but so far it's a lot of stuff that is mildly interesting but then occasionally there will be a passage that really hits. So far everything that I like about his writing I think Woolf did better to my taste. Not that they're really going for the same thing exactly but you can tell Woolf got a lot from Proust. They both seem to have a knack for pulling things out of my subconscious that I've never even thought to consciously think about, nevermind try describing, and I really love that. They're both great at gorgeous descriptive writing. Woolf just feels way more concise, every page has something great, Lost Time just takes a while to get to those places. If I remove the idea from my head that my time is worth anything and just sit patiently with the book, I do think Lost Time is a very enjoyable reading experience, so far anyway.

>>25456379
Looks like someone is the number 2 Proust scholar

No book can change your life. Very few books may leave a lasting impression on you, but saying that a book changed your life is peak performative poseurism. In the case of Proust it is especially glaring: people buy into the hype, slog through his novels, and then get to congratulate themselves on having joined some imaginary intellectual elite whose greatest pleasure lies not in having read Proust, but in being able to say they've read Proust.

>>25456379
As much as a novel can, which is to say not much but I am very glad I read it and go back to it semi regularly

Botton overhyped proust when he knew montangue was better

>>25456620
>montangue
what would you recommend by him?

>>25456379
I don't read homosexuals

Proust actually did change my life because I met my wife while taking a class on ISoLT. We still read it out loud every so often. As for his writing specifically, I wouldn’t say it changed the way I live my life, but I do think about involuntary memory and the notion that my memories are essentially locked inside objects that I may or may not encounter again. I think he’s a beautiful stylist, and few writers can articulate how the passing of time feels quite like Proust. He’s a top fiver for me.

>>25457545
Does she have a hairy pussy?

>>25456397
Yes we get it he's gay and too effeminate

>>25457940
No

I've read that book a few times, guys here would call it mid but I liked it a lot. I tried reading it recently nylon and it's a bit dated I think with writing a bit too front of the bus

>>25458010
shame

>>25456379
As a purely surface level impact on my life, it made me much more perceptive. I started trying to look at things and think about things the way I’d imagine Proust would. This habit adds depth to otherwise dull activities.

It makes me value time more. Every time I’m at a family event I gain a stronger appreciation for Proust because I see extended family members visibly older than when I last saw them (1-2 years ago) and this is something Proust did really well in his writing.

There was a specific concept in one of the first 3 volumes of ISOLT where Proust says something along the lines of “the person you were 10, 20 years ago is basically a completely different person and identity, where you met that person now you’d have nothing to talk about and nothing in common” and I think about this a lot as I get older and see the shit I used to do and like and ppl I hung out with over time and saw how much we’ve grown apart

There was a general message to respect and not waste time. The Death of Ivan Ilyich gave me a similar message but in 60 pages instead of 4000 pages

But the prose of Proust is by far the best I ever read. I gave up any hopes of ever becoming a writer after reading Proust because I found it futile to try to work on an art that he mastered.

His insight into human relationships is extremely profound and the way he can describe the most subtle details in detail is incredible.

Where Proust always lost me was his view of art being superior to something like God. He was a French atheist/gay/jew, totally different religious view from me. But I can’t understand how he can put so many beautiful details and connect so many dots and not believe in God, especially someone as perceptive as him being born into a rich family and so blessed with talents and gifts and intellect. I heavily fuck with his disdain for social status climbing, even how love/relationships are not the true salvation and in the end you’re alone, but the conclusion that art/sublime is the true salvation (and not Christ) is just lost on me but you can call me a Christfag about it idc

>>25458260
>the way he can describe the most subtle details in detail
Good thing you gave up on being a writer

>>25458298
He could be a gamer streamer, though that may fit under the bracket of wasting time

>>25458298
kek

>>25456405
Heh

>>25456544
the exception to that rule is Schopenhauer's World as Will and Representation.