"The Guermantes Way" by Marcel Proust

I recently finished the third installment of Marcel Proust's epic novel "In Search of Lost Time". "The Guermantes Way", as the name indicates, delves deeply into the Guermantes family, inasmuch as it existed while Proust was a youth. He becomes fascinated by Madame Guermantes, becomes introduced to their social circle, paints a thorough picture of their complexities and begins, what seems to be, a storied relationship with Messeiur Charlus. "The Guermantes Way" is truly like the 19th century version of a reality housewives show. All the characters are outlandishly self involved, obsessed with maintaining the status quo and, constantly trying to one up each other. I read almost the entire edition in english two years ago and started over to read it simultaneously with the french version to best aid in my french comprehension. This is a thick read, overflowing with references to works of the era and historical pieces, some obscure and others well known. My sweetheart and I have begun our plunge into the next edition "Sodom and Gommorah". Here comes the hedonism!