The Weather in Proust

The Weather in Proust collects essays and writings from queer theorist Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, published posthumously in 2011. The book centers on Marcel Proust's work while examining themes of affect, materiality, and texture across literature and art. Sedgwick analyzes Proust's depictions of weather and atmosphere as entry points into larger discussions of embodiment and perception. She connects these elements to Buddhist practices, textile arts, and her own experiences with illness and mortality. The essays move between close readings of Proust's In Search of Lost Time and broader cultural criticism incorporating psychoanalysis, affect theory, and queer studies. Sedgwick includes personal reflections on her textile art practice and engagement with Buddhism alongside her literary analysis. The collection demonstrates how environmental and sensory experiences shape both writing and consciousness, while exploring relationships between mind, body, and artistic creation. Through its varied approaches, the book suggests new ways of understanding how identity and experience emerge through encounters with art and nature.

Readers note this book requires deep familiarity with Sedgwick's prior work, particularly Touching Feeling, and knowledge of affect theory. Academic reviewers appreciate the book's examination of Buddhist concepts, paranoid/reparative reading, and textile art in relation to queer theory. Likes: - Connects Proust's writing to broader ideas about weather, environment, and embodiment - Personal essays provide insight into Sedgwick's experience with illness - Strong analysis of Buddhism's influence on affect theory Dislikes: - Dense academic language makes it inaccessible to general readers - Fragmented structure as some chapters were compiled posthumously - Limited direct engagement with Proust's actual work Ratings: Goodreads: 4.21/5 (19 ratings) Amazon: No ratings available From a Goodreads review: "Beautiful but challenging final work from Sedgwick. The theoretical frameworks require significant background knowledge, but her personal reflections on illness and art are moving."

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🌟 Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick wrote this book while battling breast cancer, completing it shortly before her death in 2009; it was published posthumously in 2011. 🎨 Though primarily known as a literary critic, Sedgwick was also a textile artist, and this book includes discussions of her fiber art alongside her academic work. 📚 The book explores Marcel Proust's masterwork "In Search of Lost Time" through the lens of affect theory, which examines emotions and feelings as social and cultural practices rather than purely individual experiences. 🌀 Despite its title, the book extends far beyond weather and Proust, incorporating Buddhist philosophy, psychoanalytic theory, and digital culture into its wide-ranging analysis. 💫 Sedgwick is considered one of the founders of queer theory, and this final work connects her groundbreaking earlier writings on sexuality with broader questions about embodiment, materiality, and temporality.