A French Book Reading Resource

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katsu
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby katsu » Fri Aug 07, 2020 2:25 am

La Dame aux Camélias

Although this Alexandre Dumas fils novel isn't widely read today, I think everyone has seen some version of the story. It's been made into movies (I like the Greta Garbo one), TV shows, plays, a ballet, and most famously Verdi's opera La Traviata. The trope of someone making a grand, romantic sacrifice for their lover, unbeknownst to that person, originated here.

The French was the easiest I've encountered in a nineteenth-century novel, so this might be a good place for learners to get their feet wet in this century's literature. The only minor difficulty is the fact that the imperfect subjunctive is used quite a bit, although you get used to it pretty quickly. Also, I have to admit that I got impatient with the book about halfway through, probably because I know the story so well. But I'm glad I stuck with it--the ending is genuinely moving.

Finally, a fun anecdote: when the novel became a hit, a journalist asked the author's father (the famous author of The Three Musketeers among many other things) if he had helped his son with the book. His reply: "Parbleu! j'ai fait l'auteur!"

French text
French audio
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French double SC movies: 222 / 200
French double SC books: 200 / 200

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Miss_French_2020
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Miss_French_2020 » Fri Aug 07, 2020 5:13 am

The following are just some simple books that I enjoyed and found to be the right level for me as an upper beginner / lower intermediate learner:

Le Magasin des Suicides - Jean Teulé
Cute story with some dark humour.
Recommended Level: A2-B1.
https://www.amazon.fr/magasin-suicides-Jean-TEUL%C3%89/dp/2260017088

Coraline - Neil Gaiman
Not originally in French. Even though it's a childrens book, I found the story charming and engaging.
Recommended Level: A2-B1.
https://www.amazon.ca/Coraline-Wiz-French-H%C3%A9l%C3%A8ne-Collon-ebook/dp/B07QY5B6ZS

Le Malheur du Bas - Ines Bayard
I found this quite brutal and oppressive. The writing style is simple and it was mostly written in the present tense and passé composé tense.
Recommended Level: A2-B1.
https://www.amazon.fr/Malheur-bas-M-ROM-FRANC-ebook/dp/B07DP6J6QF/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1596775447&sr=1-1
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Carmody
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Fri Aug 07, 2020 11:07 am

La Dame aux Camélias

katsu, many thanks for the literary update. I read La Dame aux Camélias about six months ago and liked your review. It was nice to read the original book after having seen the movie adaptations(Garbo, etc.). What I found particularly interesting was the portrayal of a French culture of the time and what the dynamics of the relationship of mistress to her lover were. A successful mistress seemed to have tremendous economic and social power.
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jmar257
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby jmar257 » Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:01 pm

Does anyone know of any good biographies about Napoleon or Charles de Gaulle that are available on Kindle and not too high level (i.e., written in super flowery language)? I'm open to biographies of other people, or even history books, as well, I'm just concerned I'm not at a level high enough for some of them.
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Carmody
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:29 pm

jmar257 »

1-No I do not know of such a book from my own reading experience and I am eager to hear what people suggest.
But
2-I have read a biography: Charles De Foucauld, Hermit and Explorer by René Bazin
As you can read below, he lived a colorful life and died a violent death.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Foucauld

I think the writing is clear and at about B1-B2. It is the life of a soldier, geographer, explorer, monk>saint.

Please note I am not a Catholic nor was I put off by the descriptions of this man who would become a saint. One would think that the subject matter would be off putting but I found it well written, researched, and quite interesting.

https://www.amazon.com/Charles-Foucauld-Explorateur-Maroc-Ermite-ebook/dp/B005Q4JUZQ/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=charles+de+foucauld+rene+bazin&qid=1596831946&s=books&sr=1-5

Note: See all formats and editions
Kindle $0.00 Read with Our Free App
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jmar257
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby jmar257 » Fri Aug 07, 2020 9:08 pm

Appreciate it, I downloaded it and will give it a go. Seems interesting.
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DaveAgain
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby DaveAgain » Fri Aug 07, 2020 9:20 pm

jmar257 wrote:Does anyone know of any good biographies about Napoleon or Charles de Gaulle that are available on Kindle and not too high level (i.e., written in super flowery language)? I'm open to biographies of other people, or even history books, as well, I'm just concerned I'm not at a level high enough for some of them.
Julian Jackson's biography of De Gaulle got good reviews and is available as an eBook. I've not read it, but as it's a translation from English I wouldn't expect it to be 'super flowery'.

https://www.seuil.com/ouvrage/de-gaulle ... 2021429589
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guyome
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby guyome » Sat Aug 08, 2020 11:59 am

Check Max Gallo's books. He has written lengthy biographies of de Gaulle and Napoléon, as well as plenty of other biographies and historical novels.
I read his De Gaulle but that was a long time ago so I can't comment about the language. His biographies were written for the general public, so they may not have the rigor of more serious, academic works, but they're probably level appropriate.
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jmar257
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby jmar257 » Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:23 pm

@DaveAgain Thanks, I didn't see that on Kindle but I did add it to my Amazon wish list...I will probably buy the hard copy eventually.

@guyome Thanks, I grabbed the first couple of the Napoleon books. Gallo seems to be quite prolific
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DaveAgain
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby DaveAgain » Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:41 pm

jmar257 wrote:@DaveAgain Thanks, I didn't see that on Kindle but I did add it to my Amazon wish list...I will probably buy the hard copy eventually.
On Amazon UK the Kindle edition ref is ASIN: B07VL9JLRB.
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