A French Book Reading Resource

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lysi
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby lysi » Wed Apr 28, 2021 5:40 am

Carmody wrote:I regret to say I am in the market for a much cheaper edition.

Thanks so much for your guidance on Proust throughout. It has been instrumental in my undertaking this Journey.

Gratefully.

The copyright on à la recherche du temps perdu expired a while ago (1987) so there's nothing cheaper you can get than a PDF/epub version of it, if you're fine with that. I found an edition on this site: http://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/vents/proust.htm.

You can also read it on this website: https://unepagedeproust.org/
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Carmody
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Wed Apr 28, 2021 12:44 pm

lysi

Thanks so much for your thoughtful guidance; greatly appreciated.
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MorkTheFiddle
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby MorkTheFiddle » Wed Apr 28, 2021 6:04 pm


This shows the first volume of what I bought: À la recherche Vol 1, though all three volumes that I have came with boxes rather than dust jackets.

The size, 4.13 x 1 1/8 x 6 7/8 inches, differs from the Amazon quote, and 14.4 ounces seems correct though I don't have a scale to measure it. The size and weight fit comfortably in the hand and the off-white color of the pages is easy on the eyes, two important characteristics for a book you're going to spend a long time with. Not to mention Vol 2 and Vol 3.

When I get around to it, I intend to read Sodome et Gomorrhe in the paperback Folio Edition with a préface by Antoine Compagnon. Amazon does not show a picture of the volume that I bought used, which bears a picture of Monet's "Cathédrale de Rouen, effet de soleil." The dimensions and weight are roughly the same as the hard cover edition.

Litteratureaudio.com carries noncommercial
recordings
of all seven volumes, though the volume you have may differ from the version the readers use. The website lets you listen to samples of the readers and equally important points to online texts, if that is you prefer that to hard copies (or of course you could print out the texts if printer ink is reasonable to buy).
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Many things which are false are transmitted from book to book, and gain credit in the world. -- attributed to Samuel Johnson

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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby guyome » Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:59 pm

When I get around to it, I intend to read Sodome et Gomorrhe in the paperback Folio Edition with a préface by Antoine Compagnon.
Antoine Compagnon is a/the reference when it comes to Proust. He taught at the Collège de France until this year and his courses often revolved around Proust. You can listen to them here or there.
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Wed Apr 28, 2021 11:29 pm

Well, MorkTheFiddle, I totally respect your taste and ability to pay for multiple volumes at that price range, however, I regret to say I don't have deep pockets and have to continue to search for a lower price A La Recherche du Temps Perdu, Tome 1: Du Cote de Chez Swann . Right now I have searched all over and am a bit of a loss.........

Oh, my........guess I can't always get what I want...
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby rdearman » Thu Apr 29, 2021 12:41 am

Carmody wrote:Well, MorkTheFiddle, I totally respect your taste and ability to pay for multiple volumes at that price range, however, I regret to say I don't have deep pockets and have to continue to search for a lower price A La Recherche du Temps Perdu, Tome 1: Du Cote de Chez Swann . Right now I have searched all over and am a bit of a loss.........

Oh, my........guess I can't always get what I want...

It is now in the public domain. You can get it as a PDF or epub file. The PDF is here:
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-01.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-02.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-03.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-04.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-05.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-06.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-07.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-08.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-09.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-10.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-11.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-12.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-13.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-14.pdf
https://beq.ebooksgratuits.com/auteurs/ ... ust-15.pdf

Obviously it isn't the printed book, but it can be read on any computer or tablet. :)
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Carmody
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Thu Apr 29, 2021 12:52 am

Thank you so much Rick for pointing that out. However, I can't print out all the pdfs, which would be quite an expenditure itself. Print toner and paper cost.

I regret to say I don't do Kindle, etc. I need a book to write in and interact with if I am going to really enjoy and learn from it. It helps me learn the language.
Last edited by Carmody on Thu Apr 29, 2021 1:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Thu Apr 29, 2021 1:00 am

MorkTheFiddle

As you know, I have an immense and sincere respect for you and your language learning skills. But your mention of what you bought triggered some thoughts that may or may not be of interest. I think you are owed an answer.

1-I am 80 years old and love French literature.

2-Since I will be moving to a retirement community in a couple of years, I am forced to go through a “disposal phase” of life. I can’t take it all with me…..

3-My joy in buying my French books (all used) is that I have not had to pay out that much and will not have to worry about them finding another home after my passing. I mark them up very considerably so they will not be of value to anyone else.

4-So my joy really is in the process of reading the books and all that I can learn. That joy really is not influenced by the quality of the binding. Don’t get me wrong, I have worked in book stores for many years and Love books, especially the beautifully bound ones. But at this point I am focused on the reading of the book itself.

5-Please forgive this long winded explanation, but knowing you as I do, I feel you are owed an explanation of my actions as regards the purchase of my Proust books.

So many great French books.......so little time.
:D :D :D

6-Thanks as always for your great guidance.
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby rdearman » Thu Apr 29, 2021 10:34 am

Carmody wrote:Thank you so much Rick for pointing that out. However, I can't print out all the pdfs, which would be quite an expenditure itself. Print toner and paper cost.

I regret to say I don't do Kindle, etc. I need a book to write in and interact with if I am going to really enjoy and learn from it. It helps me learn the language.

OK, two tips for you then
  1. You can always do what I do when trying to debug some computer program, or proofread one of my books. Print the pdf out 4 pages to 1 sheet. So it looks like the below. If you're like me, you'll need to put on the old reading glasses, but if you have a duplex printer you can print 8-1 pages. So you can print 256 pages on only 32 bits of paper. Or 59 sheets of paper for the first part "Du côté de chez Swann".
    Image

  2. You can use software which allows you to annotate pdf files directly on the computer. I use Okular on Linux, but it looks like they have a windows version as well. Image
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Maiwenn
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Maiwenn » Thu Apr 29, 2021 12:29 pm

Carmody wrote:Well, MorkTheFiddle, I totally respect your taste and ability to pay for multiple volumes at that price range, however, I regret to say I don't have deep pockets and have to continue to search for a lower price A La Recherche du Temps Perdu, Tome 1: Du Cote de Chez Swann . Right now I have searched all over and am a bit of a loss.........

Oh, my........guess I can't always get what I want...


What is your target pricepoint? What are your online vendor preferences (in other words, are you okay with amazon)?

The cheapest I've seen for a new copy of Du côté de chez Swann sold in the US is this one at $6.65: https://smile.amazon.com/Swann-Tome1-re ... 968&sr=1-3
Of course, this is not a print by a French publishing house, but it is likely cheaper than getting the PDF printed out.

Otherwise, this Folio edition has multiple offers of used copies around the same price point: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/2070379248/ ... UTF8&aod=1

If you have a Half Priced Books near you, you could also check there. In particular if you live near a college, you are likely to find classics of French literature there. If there's a fedex or other printing/shipping company near you, you could check with them how much it would cost to print out the PDFs.
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SC reading: 3819 / 10000 AR
SC reading: 3334 / 5000 FR
SC reading: 65 / 2500 DE :?

Corrections are always welcome. :)


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