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Must-read literature of modern French | ||
Tags: Literature | French | ||
 Language Learning Forum : Books, Literature & Reading |  | |
| dolly Senior Member United States Joined 5781 days ago 191 posts - 376 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: Latin | Message 41 of 53 17 April 2010 at 7:51pm | IP Logged | ||
I love Marc Lévy. I've listened to the audiobook of Et si c'était vrai over and over. I highly recommend Je voudrais que quelqu'un m'attende quelque part by Anna Gavalda, and the audiobook (excellent reading by the author, but it's abridged). 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Patriciaa Diglot Groupie Canada Joined 5676 days ago 59 posts - 73 votes Speaks: French*, English Studies: Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese | Message 42 of 53 17 June 2010 at 3:04am | IP Logged | ||
When I was a teen, I liked reading Et si c'était vrai but I recently read the sequel Vous revoir and was somehow disappointed with it. I don't know if my tastes changed or if the novel was really bad… But I think that the writing would be alright for someone learning french. I also recently read Le tour du monde en quatre-vingt jours by Jules Verne and thought it was excellent :)! I think that the level of French isn't too high and the story is interesting. I suppose that any other Jules Vernes book could be good too. I know, it's not modern but… If you're looking for some horror stories, you might try Patrick Senécal! Les Sept Jours du Talion has been recently made into a movie and Le Vide, one of his last ones, was good too (though really depressing). Edited by Patriciaa on 17 June 2010 at 3:10am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| n00bot Newbie United States Joined 5251 days ago 12 posts - 13 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 43 of 53 03 July 2010 at 9:04am | IP Logged | ||
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He's not a native Francophone, but Milan Kundera (Czech author) has been living in France since the 1970's, and
started writing in French in the 90's. He's published three books since: La Lenteur, L'Identité and L'Ignorance. I unfortunately haven't read any of those three, but I can highly-recommend Kundera from what I've read of his (Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, The Joke, Immortality). 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Violaine Diglot Newbie United Kingdom Joined 5235 days ago 6 posts - 13 votes Speaks: French*, English Studies: German | Message 44 of 53 17 July 2010 at 4:34pm | IP Logged | ||
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There is a book which is quite easy to read I think and very funny, it's called "Le Magasin à Suicides", by Jean Teulé. It came out a few years ago and was a big success.
I know it also exists in English if you want to read both and compare (the English title is the same : The Suicide Shop). It's all about a family who runs a shop where you can buy whatever you need to kill yourself ; but, unfortunately, the youngest child of the family is not depressed enough and he annoys everyone because he is always so positive and so happy. I found it brilliant, funny and very ironic, you have to like "l'humour noir" but if you do, then you're gonna have a nice moment reading this. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Languagelover Heptaglot Senior Member Switzerland Joined 7367 days ago 41 posts - 50 votes Speaks: French*, EnglishC2, German, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Ancient Greek Studies: Mandarin | Message 45 of 53 19 August 2010 at 10:18am | IP Logged | ||
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Should this thread be moved to the French room?
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| patuco Diglot Moderator Gibraltar Joined 7006 days ago 3795 posts - 4268 votes Speaks: Spanish, English* Personal Language Map | Message 46 of 53 19 August 2010 at 3:24pm | IP Logged | ||
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Not unless it's in French, as per the rules of the individual language rooms.
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| Desacrator48 Groupie United States Joined 5299 days ago 93 posts - 127 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish, French | Message 47 of 53 27 August 2010 at 7:28pm | IP Logged | ||
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Question to anyone who has read Le Petite Prince.
I bought this book a few weeks ago but I haven't opened it yet because I am still a beginner. I am halfway through French III on Pimsleur. After that I will move to Assimil. At what point do you think I could read and understand well this children's book besides looking up the occasional word? Maybe after 6 months of study? I am currently on my 3rd with Pimsleur. Thanks 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| garyb Triglot Senior Member ScotlandRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5198 days ago 1468 posts - 2413 votes Speaks: English*, Italian, French Studies: Spanish | Message 48 of 53 31 August 2010 at 11:15pm | IP Logged | ||
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I've done Pimsleur plus years of French at high school and they didn't teach anywhere near enough to understand Le Petit Prince without frequent consultation of a dictionary. Pimsleur's focus is very much on building the basics of the spoken language and necessary vocabulary and grammar for getting around on a trip to France and having basic, general conversations. Le Petit Prince will have a LOT of vocabulary you won't know (including a few unusual and slightly archaic words), not to mention use of verb tenses you won't have come across (mainly the simple past tense, which is only used in writing).
I have no experience with Assimil but since it involves a lot of reading it might help build you up to a level where reading an actual book is easier. In any case I think only having to look up the occasional word after 6 months of study is very ambitious - French has such a vast vocabulary and learning words off by heart isn't the easiest thing ever. I wouldn't let that put you off though, reading's a great way to boost your vocab in the first place and get more of a feel for the language, so it's perhaps never too early to start. Anyway, does anyone have any recommendations for what to read after Le Petit Prince; something that's not too long and is a good intermediate step before going onto "proper" adult books? 1 person has voted this message useful |
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