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.
A French Book Reading Resource
- Carmody
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- MorkTheFiddle
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource
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.
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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Many things which are false are transmitted from book to book, and gain credit in the world. -- attributed to Samuel Johnson
- Carmody
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- MorkTheFiddle
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource
It can be a rabbit hole, so watch out.Carmody wrote:MorkTheFiddle »
Thanks so much; an excellent suggestion!!!
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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
- Carmody
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource
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
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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- x 4883
Re: A French Book Reading Resource
Another rabbit hole. This is a useful resource for sure. Thanks.
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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
- Carmody
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource
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
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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- Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 11#p133911
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource
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.
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
- Carmody
- Black Belt - 1st Dan
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French (B1) - Language Log: http://tinyurl.com/zot7wrs
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Re: A French Book Reading Resource
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.
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.
Last edited by Carmody on Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Carmody
- Black Belt - 1st Dan
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- x 3408
Re: A French Book Reading Resource
More on Catherine Millet-
«
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
«
»TRIBUNENous défendons une liberté d’importuner, indispensable à la liberté sexuelle
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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