Today I had this conversation with my sister Katie via text message:

Katie> What's the best Proust work you know? And what's the correct way to pronounce his name?

Karyn> The only Proust work anybody knows is La recherche du temps perdu. It's pronounced like roost, but with a p in front.

Katie> Is it worth reading? I always hear his name bandied about, but never in direct reference to something he's written.

Karyn> I'd say he's the French D. H. Lawrence, but mostly because he's also cornered the market on eerie mommy attachment. The book is in at least five volumes, so I would not suggest it.

Katie> Ah, a mommy attachment. I would suggest you do a paper on daddy attachment, but it's too creepy.

Karyn> I should add that I have read part of it, an included short story, but in French, and I have no idea how a translation would read.

Karyn> Also, that is the most pretentious thing I've ever had the occasion to say, and I appreciate the opportunity.

Katie> Such is the joy of pursuing an advanced degree.

Grad school is pretty great in that respect.