A French Book Reading Resource

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AroAro
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby AroAro » Thu Oct 06, 2022 2:21 pm

Carmody wrote:Annie Ernaux wins the 2022 Nobel prize in literature

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/oct/06/annie-ernaux-wins-the-2022-nobel-prize-in-literature

Congratulations to Annie but what do you think of her books? I have read a couple and they did not seem like Nobel prize material. Please tell me what it is I do not get.......


I bought one of her books (L'Occupation) many years ago but never read it. I've ordered today a few more right after the announcement and am going read them by the end of the year, will share then my thoughts. I don't have high expectations but just wish she is better than previous French winners...
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Carmody
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Thu Oct 06, 2022 2:42 pm

Well, I have read

La Place
Les Années
Passion simple

and they did not ring any Noble prize bells for me........
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Thu Oct 06, 2022 3:01 pm

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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Thu Oct 06, 2022 3:12 pm

The France 24 response to Annie Ernaux's prize.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/2 ... literature

Ernaux describes her style as “flat writing” — aiming for an very objective view of the events she is describing, unshaped by florid description or overwhelming emotions.


In the book that made her name, “La Place” (A Man’s Place), published in 1983 and about her relationship with her father, she writes: “No lyrical reminiscences, no triumphant displays of irony. This neutral writing style comes to me naturally.”

So, I totally agree with Annie re her flat and neutral writing. To me it comes off as just a listing of incidents, places, people, etc. For me it never goes beyond that...

Someone tell me what I am missing........
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby MorkTheFiddle » Thu Oct 06, 2022 4:39 pm

Carmody wrote:
Ernaux describes her style as “flat writing” — aiming for an very objective view of the events she is describing, unshaped by florid description or overwhelming emotions.

Someone tell me what I am missing........

The goal seems to be to give no effort in order to create total boredom. :roll:
But I have not read any of the books.
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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 » Thu Oct 06, 2022 5:07 pm

Mork the Fiddle
The goal seems to be to give no effort in order to create total boredom. :roll:
I believe that is an excellent summary, and you did not even have to spend time reading her books to make it.
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Fortheo » Mon Oct 10, 2022 6:43 pm

Any recommendations for a feel good, happy french book?
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby DaveAgain » Mon Oct 10, 2022 9:52 pm

Fortheo wrote:Any recommendations for a feel good, happy french book?
A French one I liked, was la promesse de l'aube.

I've read some Elizabeth von Armin books lately, of those I thought Avril enchanté and Les aventures d'Elizabeth à Rügen were the best. These are translations from English.
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Tue Oct 11, 2022 1:06 am

Fortheo »

Any recommendations for a feel good, happy french book?
That is an an excellent question that should be a Stand Alone question Ongoing for this thread. We should all seek to answer it because it is so hard.

Let's face it, French literature has very major reoccurring themes of ennui and melancholy running throughout it during the 20th century. Whether it is Camus or F. Mauriac or F. Sagan or M. Duras or recent Goncourt prize winner Michel Houellebecq, French authors are not happy people. French fiction just does not do "happy". Annie Ernaud certainly is not happy. That being said there are some books out there that actually are upbeat:

La promesse de l'aube by Romain Gary is outwardly upbeat but ultimately very depressing; really.

Marcel Pagnol Le Château de mon père and Le Château de mon père are light and frothy throughout.

Un Sac de Billes by J. Joffo is a real life war time story that is ultimately uplifting.

Une Vie Simone Veil is truly riveting and inspiring throughout and tells a magnificent true story. Check her out on Wikipedia.

But getting back to contemporary fiction I would offer up Amelie Nothomb. She is totally wacked out and wonderful and I have read 5-6 of her books (some 2-3 times) and find her truly unique. There is no one like her in English literature.

Stupeur Et Tremblements
Le Sabotage amoureux
Métaphysique des tubes
Mercure
Frappe-toi le coeur
La biographie de la faim


Stupeur Et Tremblements is about her having a total nervous breakdown and then coming through the other side of it. It has won lots of prizes.......

All of her books are cathartic for me but certainly not "happy."

You either love or hate her; you either get her or don't; it is not a matter of an acquired taste.

The above of course is just my run through of what I like in icecream and everyone has their own flavors.....

Please folks, if you know of 20th century French fiction that is upbeat and a joy to read, please......... share the titles with us. I truly want to learn...
Last edited by Carmody on Tue Oct 11, 2022 6:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby jeffers » Tue Oct 11, 2022 2:02 pm

Fortheo wrote:Any recommendations for a feel good, happy french book?


I enjoyed this question juxtaposed with your avatar. However, I feel like Louise would sneer at the idea of a feel good happy book.

When I need to read French with a smile on my face I turn to the classics: Le Petit Nicolas or La sorcière de la rue Mouffetard.
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