A French Book Reading Resource

[Carmody]

Yes, René Goscinny and Pierre Gripari are upbeat authors that focus on the younger adults market.

Un sac de billes by Joseph Joffo that you cited is a wonderful and entrancing autobiography that I am sure I will return to, however, I am looking for 20th century French fiction and not non fiction. I might add that I have read extensively of the 1940-45 years in France, in which the story is set, and find them totally fascinating.

The Antoine Laurain Le chapeau de Mitterrand book is I am sure nice but I believe it is a spin off of a genre that others have already used extensively. See The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. They are both popular but somehow don't attract me.

I would like to add that my wife was for many years a Young Adult librarian and I have sincere respect for the genre.

What I do wonder about is whether other authors like Philippe Claudel aren't being crowded out by the likes of Michel Houellebecq, et al. getting all the prizes and money.

[guyome]

Have you tried reading Daniel Pennac? His Malaussène saga is certainly worth a try in my opinion.

There is also a vast number of authors writing upbeat family/love stories. It seems their books are everywhere in libraries and bookshops: Aurélie Valognes, Virginie Grimaldi, Lorraine Fouchet, Pascale Legardinier. Disclaimer: I haven't read any of these.

[Carmody]

guyome

Thanks so much; I am sure he is a great writer but I am not looking to reading fantasy.

[jeffers]

The Antoine Laurain Le chapeau de Mitterrand book is I am sure nice but I believe it is a spin off of a genre that others have already used extensively. See The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. They are both popular but somehow don't attract me.

I haven't read or seen any of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, but from what I know there's no real similarity except for the fact that the story revolves around an article of clothing. In the Sisterhood, the pants are shared on purpose, it's something which ties the friends together? On the other hand, in Le chapeau, the various characters who temporarily own the hat have no connection to each other and aquire the hat entirely by chance.

I have a feeling that the real reason you haven't found any 20th century French authors which aren't melancoly is simply because you've been avoiding them. You've disovered your inner Frenchman!

[guyome]

guyome

Thanks so much; I am sure he is a great writer but I am not looking to reading fantasy.

Hmm, I don't think Pennac's books are considered fantasy. But I may be missing something here, I'm no specialist.

[Carmody]

You are absolutely correct re Pennac; I am wrong.

In 1990 Pennac won the "Prix du Livre Inter" for La petite marchande de prose. His 1984 novel L'œil du loup was translated into English as Eye of the Wolf by Sarah Adams – later known as Sarah Ardizzone[4] – and published by Walker Books in 2002; Adams won the biennial British Marsh Award for Children's Literature in Translation in 2005 for that work. In 2002 he won the Grinzane Cavour Prize. In 2007 Pennac won the Prix Renaudot for Chagrin d'école. He won the "Grand Prix Metropolis bleu" in 2008 for his complete work. In 2013 he received an honorary degree in pedagogy from the University of Bologna.

[Amandine]

When I started reading French I read Daniel Pennac’s “L'Oeil Du Loup” about a one eyed wolf in a zoo and the boy who comes to watch him every day. It’s a book for 10 year olds but I found it genuinely moving and quite beautiful. I definitely would like to read some of his adult novels eventually.

[Nogon]

Book Review Part II of La petite fille de Monsieur Linh by Philippe Claudel

Thanks for the recommendation! It indeed is a tiny gem. When reading the premise, I was afraid that it might be a bit kitschy, but it manages to just avoid that risk.

[Carmody]

Nogon » Tue Apr 18, 2023 8:02 pm

Carmody wrote:
Book Review Part II of La petite fille de Monsieur Linh by Philippe Claudel

Thanks for the recommendation! It indeed is a tiny gem. When reading the premise, I was afraid that it might be a bit kitschy, but it manages to just avoid that risk.

Glad you enjoyed it.

A pleasure shared is a pleasure doubled.

[Carmody]

Brunitta

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