I read about 30% of L'Étranger - Albert Camus. I consider myself a patient person; I've read Tolstoy's War and Peace three times (3 different translators), but I found this book to drag on too much with little action. I can see myself trying it again some day; but, for now, learning and reading en français, it was just too little action. I suspect something is happening against the main character, but I can only read so much before I get fed up.
Read a few pages of Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, and the story is interesting, but it is a little above my vocab level. I definately want to try this book a littler later. Maybe after a year of learning French.
Generally, I prefer to read native french material; despite that, I decided to try Heidi by Spyri Johanna. It's a child's book from 1881. It was written originally in German, but the author gave their blessing for a French translation.
I'm 12% throught this book, and, so far, I'm in love. I'd recommend it for those who have been learning French for a year or more. It's a super cute story of a 5 year old who is sent to live with an old man in the mountains—a totally new life for her. He makes her a bed of hay and her own chair to eat dinner on.
It is such a primative novel that it takes me away from this current life and into a beautiful simplistic place of long ago. A big reason why I am so taken by old literature.
A benefit to reading the book is the Heidi video series, which is on YouTube en français (cued up to a cute part in the story): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUlwWHT ... u.be&t=214
If anything changes in the book and I change my opinion, I'll be sure to write about it here.
Picture of the Heidi video:
Le groupe français 2016 - 2019 Les Voyageurs
- bedtime
- Orange Belt
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Re: Le groupe français 2016 - 2019 Les Voyageurs
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- badger
- Orange Belt
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Re: Le groupe français 2016 - 2019 Les Voyageurs
there was a Swiss/German live-action TV series of Heidi made in the late 70's that was shown in the UK (dubbed into English).
it seems that it is also available in French:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSj2cZsBOBs
it seems that it is also available in French:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSj2cZsBOBs
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Re: Le groupe français 2016 - 2019 Les Voyageurs
You can still get that one on DVDbadger wrote:there was a Swiss/German live-action TV series of Heidi made in the late 70's that was shown in the UK (dubbed into English).
it seems that it is also available in French:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSj2cZsBOBs
http://www.lcj-editions.com/catalogue/2 ... 43453.html
There's an interview with the grown up Heidi on YouTube
https://youtu.be/zWF9hm9DijE
EDIT
There's a nice 10 minute doccy on the book and its success Heidi: histoire d'un mythe.
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Re: Le groupe français 2016 - 2018 Les Voyageurs
Gilbert Joseph also sell 2nd books via their website (this was mentioned by a vLogger).MamaPata wrote:In case anyone else ends up looking for bookshops in Paris, I can absolutely confirm Ogrim's suggestion of Gilbert Joseph.
This seems to be much like Amazon, where new and used copies (where available) are offered on the same page.
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- Fortheo
- Green Belt
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Re: Le groupe français 2016 - 2019 Les Voyageurs
bedtime wrote:
Generally, I prefer to read native french material; despite that, I decided to try Heidi by Spyri Johanna. It's a child's book from 1881. It was written originally in German, but the author gave their blessing for a French translation.
I'm 12% throught this book, and, so far, I'm in love. I'd recommend it for those who have been learning French for a year or more. It's a super cute story of a 5 year old who is sent to live with an old man in the mountains—a totally new life for her. He makes her a bed of hay and her own chair to eat dinner on.
It is such a primative novel that it takes me away from this current life and into a beautiful simplistic place of long ago. A big reason why I am so taken by old literature.
A benefit to reading the book is the Heidi video series, which is on YouTube en français (cued up to a cute part in the story): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUlwWHT ... u.be&t=214
If anything changes in the book and I change my opinion, I'll be sure to write about it here.
Picture of the Heidi video:
There's a series of French children novels from the 60's you might like. I say this because I like them for reasons similar to those that you cited in regards to why you liked Heidi.
The series is called "les six compagnons" and it's about a group of young boys, one girl, and a dog who somehow always find themselves entwined in a mystery. It takes place in a simpler time, and all the kids are so pure hearted and good intentioned that it's become my go to book series when I'm feeling blue. I don't know what level your French is at, but I think these books are very suitable for learners at an intermediate level.
Actually, now that I think of it, I know several older, French book series for kids, so if you ever need help finding something in that genre, let me know.
*Edit*
I just realized that the newer edition of these books from bibliothèque rose have been edited a bit to make them a bit more accessible to the youth of today. I don't know exactly what editing changes they've made, though, but it is something to be aware of.
Last edited by Fortheo on Thu Oct 08, 2020 9:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- Gundelangues
- White Belt
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Re: Le groupe français 2016 - 2019 Les Voyageurs
Je suis en train de lire "La fôret sombre", qui est le deuxième livre de la trilogie intitulée "Le Problème a Trois Corps". Je trouve ces romans très amusants et interessants. C'est étonnant parce que je n'aime beaucoup les romans, mais il semble que la science fiction me plaît. Je lis aussi un autre livre de Pierre Hadot sur Marc Aurèle.
Quelqu'un d'entre vous écoute "Sur les Épaules de Darwin"? Je trouve ce podcast vraiment bon.
Quelqu'un d'entre vous écoute "Sur les Épaules de Darwin"? Je trouve ce podcast vraiment bon.
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Re: Le groupe français 2016 - 2019 Les Voyageurs
There's a french homeless charity called Emmaus, I think all the various branches are able (but not obliged) to sell through the Label-Emmaus website.
https://www.label-emmaus.co/fr/a-propos/qui/
Label Emmaüs est le premier site de e-commerce multi-vendeurs français dont le catalogue soit exclusivement alimenté par des acteurs du Mouvement Emmaüs et ses partenaires de l’économie sociale et solidaire (ESS).
Depuis 2016, nous proposons à ces acteurs d’ouvrir une boutique en ligne sur notre marketplace. Cette activité est le moyen de former les compagnons, les salariés en parcours d’insertion et les personnes accueillies, à des métiers en tension dans le domaine du numérique et de la logistique, mais aussi un nouveau vecteur de communication et un relais de croissance pour ces structures.
https://www.label-emmaus.co/fr/a-propos/qui/
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- Maiwenn
- Orange Belt
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Re: Le groupe français 2016 - 2019 Les Voyageurs
There is also the site https://www.recyclivre.com which sells used books for very fair prices. I believe it ships outside of France as well? 10% of profits go to programs fighting illiteracy. I've always been very pleased with my purchases from them.
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Full SC Arabic Reading:
Double SC French Reading:
Half SC German Reading:
Arabic Output Writing: Speaking:
Corrections are always welcome.
Double SC French Reading:
Half SC German Reading:
Arabic Output Writing: Speaking:
Corrections are always welcome.

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- Blue Belt
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Re: Le groupe français 2016 - 2019 Les Voyageurs
Assimil has published a brand-new version of "Assimil French".
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Re: Le groupe français 2016 - 2019 Les Voyageurs
Arnaud wrote:Assimil has published a brand-new version of "Assimil French".
Big fan of Assimil, but I'm not sure they've really changed much of their content thru the various versions since the 90's (or earlier). Anyone know if this is really a new version or just another publication of the previous editions?
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