A French Book Reading Resource

All about language programs, courses, websites and other learning resources
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Carmody
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Thu Nov 26, 2020 1:12 pm

Thanks for the response.

I see on Amazon that the Alias Caracalla book is expensive:
Paperback
5 Used from $31.00
2 New from $35.00
I want to read it but need to find a cheaper copy.

Thanks again.
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Xeph
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Xeph » Fri Nov 27, 2020 2:54 pm

I'm looking for a book that would be aimed at A2-B1, I really like anything to do history, so any roman historique works for me.
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Carmody
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Fri Nov 27, 2020 8:14 pm

Xeph

Welcome to "TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource". We are glad to have you join us.

Please feel free to fill in your Profile info so that we can better assist you with your questions.

Location:
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Also, when asking for books, it might be helpful to have you designate the reading level: A1,A2, B1,B2, C1, C2 you feel comfortable with.

You may wish to go to the Front page of the Forum and find:

Home >Board index >General Language Discussion>Introduce yourself here

so you can tell people you have arrived.

Finally, thank you so much with honoring us by being your first Post to the Forum. We are a friendly bunch that really enjoy helping others so don't hesitate to ask or suggest.

Enjoy!
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Carmody
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Sat Nov 28, 2020 10:54 am

Xeph

That sounds like a good question and I regret that I don't know of a title for you myself however I did come up with these sources that you may find of use:
https://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/culture/2018/08/12/31006-20180812ARTFIG00046-club-de-lecture-20-romans-historiques-qui-vont-vous-faire-voyager-dans-le-temps.php

and this
https://www.babelio.com/livres-/roman-historique/30
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Xeph
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Xeph » Sat Nov 28, 2020 11:47 pm

Carmody wrote:Xeph

That sounds like a good question and I regret that I don't know of a title for you myself however I did come up with these sources that you may find of use:
https://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/culture/2018/08/12/31006-20180812ARTFIG00046-club-de-lecture-20-romans-historiques-qui-vont-vous-faire-voyager-dans-le-temps.php

and this
https://www.babelio.com/livres-/roman-historique/30


No worries, your links have been very helpful. The books recommended on Le Figaro look interesting, especially Alamut.
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Carmody
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:28 am

If anyone needs suggestions for books to read, here is what my local Alliance Francaise is reading at different levels:
https://www.afwestchesterny.org/events/book-clubs/
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Carmody
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Wed Dec 23, 2020 1:56 am

One of the books I am reading just came from here:

Label Emmaüs
https://www.label-emmaus.co/fr/catalogue/livres-et-papeterie/

who they are:
https://www.label-emmaus.co/fr/a-propos/qui/
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Carmody
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Thu Dec 31, 2020 2:40 am

Le régime de Vichy (Que sais-je?) by Henry Rousso

Le syndrome De Vichy, de 1944 à Nos Jours by Henry Rousso


Many ways to talk about these two fascinating books and I am not sure which approach to take.

I love France and all things French interest me. France is obviously more than the sum of just its literature of the 18th and 19th century. I love the literature but to just stop there is not enough. That is why I have turned to its history and specifically these 2 books.

They are fascinating and deserve a very considerable amount of time and thought.

The time of Vichy was 1940 to 1944. The author is Henry Rousso and his approach is that of the historian. Being a history major I find historiography tremendously relevant and rewarding to study and especially today.

(Synecdoche - • Synecdoche refers to a literary device in which a part of something is substituted for the whole (as hired hand for "worker"), or less commonly, a whole represents a part (as when society denotes "high society"). In metonymy, a word that is associated with something is used to refer to it (as when crown is used to mean "king" or "queen").)


Rousso has taken those Vichy years and the years since then to show how the two time periods are actually a synecdoche for what France is about. It really is fascinating and not just for what it tells me about France but my own country.

The American Civil War and the time since then are a fascinating parallel to Vichy and the years leading up to today when viewed through the lens of the historiography of this historian.

And no, it is not pretty to think through and understand the implications of what it he is saying, however, the effort of thought is well rewarded.

Everyone finds their own joys in life: watching sports, learning languages, etc. But for me, it is using the learning of the French language to understand its culture and its history past and the history it is living today. It is totally exhilarating.

Reading level for both these books is definitely a C2 combined with willingness to read slowly and think through what is being said.

I would give it an 8/10.
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MorkTheFiddle
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby MorkTheFiddle » Fri Jan 01, 2021 6:46 pm

You have helped my (rather half-hearted) attempt to find any good history about WW2 that is written by someone who is French. I want to take a look at what Rousso has to say. 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

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Carmody
Black Belt - 1st Dan
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Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2016 4:00 am
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Language Log: http://tinyurl.com/zot7wrs
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Re: TOTW: A French Book Reading Resource

Postby Carmody » Fri Jan 01, 2021 7:02 pm

Always a special treat to hear from you.

These books are focused on Vichy and its impact since then. They are fascinating about what they tell about France past and present. However if you are looking for something with a broader focus on WWII you may need to look elsewhere.

“Rousso has set out to provide not just another narrative of les années noires―the years of defeat, occupation, of the phantom ‘French State’ and the civil war―but a study of the way the Vichy episode has been perceived and perverted by the French ever since. The result is a brilliant and intemperate book that is also a tract for the times.”―The Economist


Have a wonderful New Year.
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