READING NOTES AND COMMENTARY #READING

Ah, how the year progresses. September is now done and we are entering fall. Here is my reading notes and thoughts for the month of September. As always taken from memory and impressions. 1. Proust. I have read all but the last 40 pages of Vol IV of Remembrance of Things Past. Titled "Cities of the Plain". In the revised edition, which I am not reading, it is called Sodom and Gomorrah". It follows the story of M and the other characters of the novel as they continue to pursue their desires through society. Here are my observations on this volume: Proust definitely is exploring homosexuality in society and the degree to which it is hidden and yet everywhere. The beginning with the observation of the "courtship" of Charlus and Jupien is wonderful. The obsession with "secret lives". Various sexual tastes. The idea of desire and when you attain its object it is disappointing is carried on in this volume. M is not capable of happiness because when he ...

As July ended my reading notes for the Month. I am almost done with Gone With The Wind. Thoughts so far: it is an artifact of the time. Truly racist in its view of history and race in America. It reflects most of the thinking of a majority of Americans in the 1930's I am sure. Good Points: Scarlett O'Hara was one of the first real feminine Anti-Heroes. It is a surprisingly feminist novel that did not have a lot of good things to say about men. Good story over a period of time. Bad Points: Racist with slaves portrayed as childlike, sub human (lots of monkey references) and either loyal "darkies" or free issue "N******". Theory from this woman who knew no more about slavery in 1930's than she did about moon landings is that slaves were treated well, more like honored servants than property, never really sold, never sexually abused and never murdered unless they were "uppity". Klan was a group of patriots who defended women from the uncontro...