RMST 202 :P

 The Shrouded Woman was my second reading for this class. Compared to our first reading Swann's Way , I found this novella not only easier to follow but far more capable of keeping me fully engaged as well. Before starting the reading, I can honestly say i was a bit worried that i might not understand it, or like it enough to read through it comfortably, but I can truly say I enjoyed reading it from beginning to end! This story is narrated by woman who had recently passed away. My guess is that it takes place at an open casket funeral. Ana Maria, or the shrouded woman, recounts key moments of her life while she lies dead. With each person that approaches her lifeless body, Ana Maria shares a detailed story on how they had impacted her life. She struggles to rest peacefully before facing these individuals and the hardships they caused her, one last time. Her stories involve life with her children and past lovers.  There were two key men/lovers that played a huge roll in the wom...

 After reading the first part of Swann's Way, I have mixed feelings. I unfortunately found it more difficult to read than I had expected. It wasn't the hardest text i've ever read, but I definitely found myself having to re-read sentences and even whole pages. The author uses extremely long sentences, as well as extensive imagery at which some points I had a hard time picking up on. I guess this just proves I need to spend more time with a book in my hand! Despite being a challenging read, I did enjoy the content of the novel. I believe in the first few pages of the book, the author is going in and out of sleep, and describes the dreams and memories that return to him while in this state. Marcel seems to cling to memories of his childhood, specifically his life in Combray. He speaks about family experiences, and the emotions he felt during those times.  One particular aspect of the novel really stood out to me, is the attachment Marcel has to his mother as a child. Througho...