A French Book Reading Resource

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Carmody
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Thu Aug 22, 2019 11:40 pm

People have been so patient and thoughtful in responding with ideas, that I thought it might be useful if I provided a list of books that I really enjoyed, that are not doom and gloom, and that minimize the melancholy and misery bit.

Sans famille H. Malot****
Le Château de mon père M. Pagnol
Un Sac de Billes J. Joffo
Bonjour tristesse F. Sagan****
35 Kilos d'espoir A. Gavalda
Je l'aimais A. Gavalda
Poisson d'or J.M.G. Le Clézio
Journal d'une femme de chambre O. Mirbeau
Une pièce montée Blandine Le Callet****
Frappe-toi le coeur A. Nothomb****
Le Retour de l'Enfant Prodigue A. Gide

Of course I like a lot of other French authors as well but this is only a short sample list to introduce people to that niche of French literature which is not so deeply depressed and about which I would love to learn more.

Again thanks to people who have made suggestions.
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MorkTheFiddle
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby MorkTheFiddle » Thu Aug 22, 2019 11:47 pm

Are you familiar with Babelio, which is a kind of a Good Reads for French? For example today I see there is a panel called
Les livres les plus attendus de la rentrée littéraire de septembre 2019. There's lots of reading there in several genres.
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Carmody
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Fri Aug 23, 2019 6:57 pm

MorkTheFiddle »

Thanks so much; an excellent suggestion!!!
:D
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MorkTheFiddle
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby MorkTheFiddle » Fri Aug 23, 2019 11:22 pm

Carmody wrote:MorkTheFiddle »

Thanks so much; an excellent suggestion!!!
:D
It can be a rabbit hole, so watch out. ;)
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Carmody
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Sun Aug 25, 2019 11:56 pm

I just received this from my local Alliance Française du Westchester

Rentrée Littéraire 2019
Consultez toutes les nouveautés Culturethèque

http://www.culturetheque.com/EXPLOITATION/US/accueil-portal.aspx
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MorkTheFiddle
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby MorkTheFiddle » Mon Aug 26, 2019 10:51 pm

Another rabbit hole. This is a useful resource for sure. Thanks.
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Carmody
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Wed Aug 28, 2019 12:32 am

Have just finished La vie sexuelle de Catherine M. by M.C. Millet for a second time. I usually read a book 2-3 times.

So, this book is not like anything I have read before. It is:
-part diary / autobiography
-part sex manual
-part women's liberation statement on how women can enjoy sex

The author is quite well known in France and together with Catherine Deneuve published a statement on women and sex.

My personal tendency is to read books that are French fiction literature of a level which is Classic in nature. This book was a real departure from that and worth the effort for the simple reason that it had lots of vocabulary that I have never seen before. I mean that Marcel Pagnol, Jean Giono, and most of the other books use a vocabulary that I have grown accustomed to but this author used words that were a real challenge for me. There were just so many words that I had to look up, which I guess was really good because I am always looking for more words.

My final assessment: 5/5
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MorkTheFiddle
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby MorkTheFiddle » Wed Aug 28, 2019 1:54 am

No book in French candid about sex and with a focus on sex has ever passed my way, but in English there have been Lady Chatterley's Lover by Lawrence and Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller. Both treat sex in a serious way, Lawrence in an almost metaphysical way, Miller in an often comedic way. Sex is a main theme of Lady Chatterley's Lover, but only a part of Miller's novels. Give Lawrence 3/5 for his novel. He succeeds far better in something like The Rainbow, 5/5. Miller's Tropic of Cancer would get a 4/5. With the caveat for both novels being it has been a generation at least since I read them. This is all by way of saying that I will take a look at Millet's work and see how it compares. The local library has it, but only in translation, so I bought a copy online cheap at $4.08 with free shipping. It comes from Georgia, and I suppose on a language forum I need to say the USA Georgia, so shouldn't take long to arrive.
My other French reading consists of a number of plays by Jean Giraudoux. I have just begun with La guerre de Troie n'aura pas lieu, an amusing and intriguing title. This is the first of Giraudoux that I have read.
Thanks, Carmody, for the review.
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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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Carmody
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Wed Aug 28, 2019 2:25 pm

Major apology and correction re my assessment:

My final assessment: "5/5" should be corrected to read 5/10.

I am certain the way sexuality is handled in the book will shock most people on this Forum.

Now I feel really guilty that you went out and bought the book. :oops:
Last edited by Carmody on Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Carmody
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:49 pm

More on Catherine Millet-

«
Nous défendons une liberté d’importuner, indispensable à la liberté sexuelle
»TRIBUNE

Dans une tribune au « Monde », un collectif de 100 femmes, dont Catherine Millet, Ingrid Caven et Catherine Deneuve, affirme son rejet d’un certain féminisme qui exprime une « haine des hommes ».

https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2018/01/09/nous-defendons-une-liberte-d-importuner-indispensable-a-la-liberte-sexuelle_5239134_3232.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/14/french-feminists-catherine-deneuve-metoo-letter-sexual-harassment
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