csv-read.el

(defun normalize-curr (curr)
  (let ((curr (member-if-not
	       (lambda (obj)
		 (= obj ?\ ))
	       curr)))
    (if (every #'characterp curr)
	(concatenate 'string (nreverse curr))
      (if (stringp (car curr))
	  (car curr)
	(error "Invalid element")))))

(defun csv-file->list (file)
  (with-temp-buffer
    (insert-file-contents file)
    (csv-buffer->list (current-buffer))))

(defun csv-buffer->list (bufname)
  (with-current-buffer bufname
    (save-excursion
      (let ((result nil)
	    (line-result nil)
	    (curr nil))
 	(do* ((pos 1 (1+ pos))
	     (ch (char-after pos) (char-after pos)))
	    ((and (goto-char pos) (eobp)) 'loop-finish)
	  (cond
	   ((= ch ?\n)
	    (unless (null curr)
	      (push (normalize-curr curr) line-result))
	    (push (nreverse line-result) result)
	    (setf curr nil)
	    (setf line-result nil))
	   ((= ch ?\")
	    (goto-char pos)
	    (forward-sexp)
	    (push (buffer-substring-no-properties pos (point))
		  curr))
	   ((and (null curr) (= ch ?\ ))
	    ;; skip
	    )
	   ((= ch ?,)
	    (when (null curr)
	      (setf curr '("")))
	    (push (normalize-curr curr)
		  line-result)
	    (setf curr nil))
	   (t
	    (push ch curr))))
	(when curr
	  (push (normalize-curr curr)
		line-result))
	(when line-result
	  (push (nreverse line-result)
		result))
	(nreverse result)))))