Within a Budding Grove

De: Marcel Proust

Narrado por: John Rowe

In the second volume of Proust's great novel, the narrator emerges as an actor in the drama of his own life. Swann has now dwindled into a husband for his former mistress, Odette, and their daughter, Gilberte, becomes the adolescent narrator's playmate and tantalising love object.

We move from Paris to the seaside town of Balbec, from ritualised social performances to midsummer spontaneity and from Gilberte to her successor, Albertine.

In Balbec, the narrator is befriended by the painter Elstir who introduces him both to the craft of painting and to the mysterious 'little band' of girls. An artistic education is thus intricately interwoven with a journey of sexual self-discovery.

This is now the entire audiobook, not in two parts.

©2008 Marcel Proust (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

So Proust!

Good for lovers of Proust and know how he writes. The narrator has the correctly sensitive voice. Beautifully written ending.

John Rowe is the reader for Proust and Moncrief

I've finished the first two volumes on audio book, occasionally reading on Kindle with the second volume, but I find it almost easier to follow John Rowe's narrative (though I read all six volumes in the tiny-script hardbacks back in the 90s). Now I'm listening to The Guermantes' Way, with the Neville narration. Just started. Maybe I'm in the transition phase, but I really miss my friend John Rowe. He took me through the labyrinthian sentences so smoothly. Maybe I'll grow to like Neville, but at the beginning of volume three he was too fast and didn't lead me as effortlessly Rowe. Anyway, apparently there is no choice. Rowe only recorded the first two volumes. (If I'm wrong let me know).

I have not dipped into newest written translations, which are said to be really good. And after I finish this round of Proust (with the Moncrief translation), I'll start again with the contemporay one). But Moncrief is so good, so good I don't know if I'm hearing Proust or Moncrief (or Rowe). But that's the nature of translation.

Whatever the case, Proust is worth a go. He's not right for everyone. I have friends (novelist friends who can't get into it). But I can. At any rate, dive into Proust, via book, Kindle, or audio. If it doesn't stick. Take a year off. Try again. If it still doesn't stick, you have every right to quit. Reading Proust is always about TIME (among a million other things), and maybe the time is not right for you now.

Delightful read that enriches one's life.

A wonderful, eloquent expression of a sophisticated mind. Many insights into the rewards of life.

You. need to read Proust

Really. You’ve heard of Proudt. You’ve been put off by the length of the six-volume work. But, if anything, it’s too short.

A fine reading of Proust

Rowe's performance feels less arch than Neville's. I like them both but preferred Rowe, this time around. I only wish Rowe had finished the series. Or, if he has, I wish Audible would make the rest of it available.

A beautiful reading of a beautiful novel

I have enjoyed volumes 1 & 2 of the series, narrated by John Rowe, so much. As a widow, dealing with grief, Proust's gentle introspection and observances on life have brought me a great deal of comforting perspective. These books have been perfect for easing into sleep at night; there are no great conflicts or agonizing dilemmas, just amazing insights on human nature, people and situations. He captures so accurately, in such detail, exactly how each stage of life felt and was experienced. This brought many long-forgotten moments of my own life back into focus for me. The narration is just sublime. Rowe reads as if he is just speaking directly from his own mind, you don't get a sense of the material being 'read' at all. He brings it to life. I felt as though I was listening to a friend speak of his life's remembrances. I'm terribly disappointed that the rest of the volumes in this series are not available in the voice of John Rowe! I was so looking forward to hearing the rest in his voice!

Magnificent

It’s a sublimely great book that’s beautifully read here. I found it helpful to listen to the audio version while also following in the paperback edition at the same time. This translation in the audiobook is slightly different from the wonderful Scott Moncrieff/Kilmartin/Enright translation that I was reading at the same time, but it didn’t matter. Thanks for this fantastic reading — it’s been a joyous experience for me.

Eat your veggies, sleep 6-8 hours, read your Proust

He will teach as much about human nature as
Aristotle, Neiztche, Freud, Jung, Marx, Austen, Wilde, Shakespeare, William James

And the narrator is perfectly British without getting in the way of the fictional dream

insomniac's dream

Proust writes marvelous stuff, but his interminable sentences can make his work difficult to read. Now, John Rowe to the rescue: he reads so sensitively, it's like listening to one's own thoughts. I was so glad to find he's started another volume of Proust's masterwork, and look forward eagerly to the second installment, and hopefully more to come. Insomniacs, take note: with Marcel Proust/James Rowe on your iPod, you may be able to jettison the Lunesta. I mean this in a good way (and I think that Proust, who wrote at night in that cork-lined room, would have approved): the narrative is absorbing, complex, seductive, and nonlinear, perfect for bedtime (or the wee hours of the night), as it hardly matters where you leave off or pick it up again.

Fun and colorful

Proust is an extraordinary author - noticing so many details and describing them wondrously. So good.