A French Book Reading Resource

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MorkTheFiddle
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby MorkTheFiddle » Fri Dec 10, 2021 7:07 pm

Carmody wrote:I read France24 regularly online and as a history lover just could not resist sharing this quote of Macron:

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20211209-macron-visits-french-town-vichy-as-world-war-ii-polemic-enters-presidential-race


Interesting to learn France24 publishes an English version, which reminds me that not everyone writes dates the way we do. The edition was published 09/12//21, which confused me for just a little bit. :)
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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: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Mon Dec 13, 2021 1:34 am

My local Alliance Française du Westchester has just sent out the book list for the advanced reading group.

10 janvier (en visioconférence) : Un pédigrée - Patrick Modiano
14 février : Soeur de sable - Stéphane Héaume
14 mars : L'arbre de l'oubli - Nancy Huston
11 avril : L'anomalie - Herve Le Tellier
9 mai : El Dorado - Laurent Gaudé
8 août : Les porteurs d'eau - Atiq Rahimi
12 septembre : Chien blanc - Romain Gary
10 octobre (en visioconférence) : Les fleurs de l'ombre - Tatiana de Rosnay
14 novembre : Le bal des folles - Victoria mas
12 décembre : Un secret - Philippe Grimbert
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Carmody
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Thu Dec 16, 2021 9:40 pm

Just a reminder that you can always find out the current best sellers in France at:
edistat
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby kanewai » Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:27 am

Thanks for the postings, Carmody. I always like reviewing end-of-the-year lists, reading recommendations from the schools, etc. I rarely find a list where I want to read everything, but I usually find one or two things that are interesting.

In that vein - here are the nominees for some of the major French literary prizes this year. Almost all of these authors are new to me. I'd definitely be interested in hearing anyone's thoughts.


Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire

winner: Le Sanctuaire de Laurine Roux 
Ce qu’ici-bas nous sommes de Jean-Marie Blas de Roblès 
Un long voyage de Claire Duvivier
L’Anomalie de Hervé Le Tellier
Images de la fin du monde de Christophe Siébert 
Rive gauche de Pierre Bordage
Au bal des absents de Catherine Dufour 
Le Banquet annuel de la Confrérie des fossoyeurs de Mathias Enard
Des jours sauvages de Xabi Molia 
Quitter les monts d’automne d’Émilie Querbalec 

Le prix Goncourt

winner: La plus secrète mémoire des hommes de Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
Le Voyage dans l'Est de Christine Angot
La carte postale de Anne Berest
Enfant de salaud de Sorj Chalandon
Milwaukee Blues de Louis-Phillip Dalembert
L'éternel fiancé de Agnès Desarthe
La porte du voyage sans retour de David Diop
S'adapter de Clara Dupont-Mondo
Parle tout bas de Elsa Fottorino
S'il n'en reste qu'une de Patrice Franchesci
Soleil amer de Lilia Hassaine
Au printemps des monstres de Phillipe Jaenada
Les enfants de Cadillac de François Noudelman
Feu de Maria Pourchet
Le voyant d'Étampes de Abel Quentin
La fille qu'on appelle de Tanhuy Viel

Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française

winner: Mon maître et mon vainqueur de François-Henri Désérable
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French: 16 / 50

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Carmody
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:48 am

Looks great! Thanks so much!
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Sat Dec 18, 2021 3:31 pm

A book series I never heard of: Caroline and Martine!
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby zjones » Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:02 pm

Carmody,

This thread is extensive and very useful! Since it has been a long time since you started this thread, I was wondering if you have any specific recommendations for someone of my level (B1) that have strong storylike/mythological elements. For example, I like The Lord of the Rings in English, but I do not think I could read it in French (yet - I did ask for Le Hobbit for Christmas). But the general feeling of LOTR/Chronicles of Narnia is something I would like to find in French, original or translated. Maybe you have some ideas?

Thank you and I hope all is well!
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby rdearman » Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:33 pm

zjones wrote:Carmody,

This thread is extensive and very useful! Since it has been a long time since you started this thread, I was wondering if you have any specific recommendations for someone of my level (B1) that have strong storylike/mythological elements. For example, I like The Lord of the Rings in English, but I do not think I could read it in French (yet - I did ask for Le Hobbit for Christmas). But the general feeling of LOTR/Chronicles of Narnia is something I would like to find in French, original or translated. Maybe you have some ideas?

Thank you and I hope all is well!

Not Carmody, but I got these from a library a long while back, and while they are young adult fiction, I thought they were pretty good.

D'un monde à l'autre #1 by Pierre Bottero
Les Frontières de glace #2 by Pierre Bottero
L'île du destin #3 by Pierre Bottero
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Carmody
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Tue Dec 21, 2021 3:21 am

I am B1 also.

And agree that The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or L'Armoire Magique by C.S. Lewis should make a good read. I read that plus the following:

If you could find these titles in French they might also be of interest:
Lost Horizon by James Hilton (1933)
A Wrinkle in Time is a young adult novel written by American author Madeleine L'Engle.

I have also read in a different genre:
Voyage au pays des arbres J.M.G. Le Clézio
35 Kilos d'espoir A. Gavalda

Hope this helps and thanks for asking.
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby DaveAgain » Tue Dec 21, 2021 6:25 am

zjones wrote:Carmody,

This thread is extensive and very useful! Since it has been a long time since you started this thread, I was wondering if you have any specific recommendations for someone of my level (B1) that have strong storylike/mythological elements. For example, I like The Lord of the Rings in English, but I do not think I could read it in French (yet - I did ask for Le Hobbit for Christmas). But the general feeling of LOTR/Chronicles of Narnia is something I would like to find in French, original or translated. Maybe you have some ideas?

Thank you and I hope all is well!
Le crepuscule des elfes by Jean Louis Fetjaine reminded me a little of Fellowship of the Ring. I think there would be quite a lot of unknown words, but it's available as an eBook so you could easily look them up! :-)

Les Enchantments d'Ambremer by Pierre Pevel is a fantasy/steampunk novel with an engaging lead character, I didn't like the others in the series as much, but this one was good fun. Again available as an eBook.
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