Swann in Love by Marcel Proust

OUR VENUE FOR JUNE WILL BE AT KEVIN'S HOME NEAR DOWNTOWN BERKELEY, A FEW BLOCKS FROM BART.

Upcoming books and meetings:

Sunday, Jun 8, 2025: Swann in Love by Marcel Proust
Sunday, Jul 13, 2025: Four Squares by Bobby Finger
Sunday, Aug 10, 2025: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Sunday, Sep 14, 2025: Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian
Sunday, Oct 12, 2025: TBD

A brilliant, devastating novella of infatuation, love, and jealousy set against the backdrop of Paris at the end of the 19th Century, illuminating the fragilities and foibles of human beings when in the grip of desire.

Charles Swann is a highly cultured man-about-town plunged into turmoil when he falls for a young woman named Odette de Crecy. We see the progress of Swann's emotions with penetrating exactitude as he encounters Odette at regular gatherings in the salon of the Verdurins.

His wilful self-delusion is both poignant and comic, and his tormented feelings play out in scenes of high comedy amongst Odette's socially pretentious circle.

Part of Proust's monumental masterpiece, In Search of Lost Time, and also captivatingly self-contained.

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This is a casual gathering of gay men held on the second Sunday of the month. We have fun and stimulating discussions about quality gay literature while sharing a potluck meal.

Books are selected by participants several months in advance, and the only requirements for attending are to RSVP, to bring food and/or a beverage to share, and to have read a substantial part (at least half) of the book being discussed.

If you're coming, please add a "comment" on this page saying what you'll be bringing for the potluck, so we're less likely to end up with only one type of food. Store-bought food is fine!

Gather at 2:00 for potluck; discussion begins at 3:00 and ends by 4:30.
Event is at a private residence a few blocks from downtown Berkeley BART, and space is limited, so be sure to sign up soon!