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07/11/2007, 6:14 5-element Joined on 28/10/2006 Languedoc Posts 828 Re: Any recommendations for French authors to read? J.R. has hit the nail right on the head : read a book about something you are very interested in, even a fiction book can fit the bill. Here are a few books which seemed to be liked by some advanced French students: "Le bonheur est dans le pre" by Pierre Bonte (Livre de Poche) - some short interviews of ordinary bur remarkable people (often very rural) leading ordinary but remarkable lives, all of them very happy about their lives. "Grenadou, paysan francais" by Ephraim Grenado, Alain Prevost (Points) - something similar, published in 1966. Again, an interview book. "Histoires extraordinaires de la Resistance" by Paul Dreyfus (Livre de Poche) - self-explanatory "L'enfant" by Jules Valles. Written in autobiographical mode by an unhappy child, also split into self-contained chapters, some saw it as an attack on the family. Happy reading, all!    Report

07/11/2007, 12:27 J.R's gone native Joined on 16/07/2006 Picardie, Sussex Posts 1,828 Re: Any recommendations for French authors to read? Sweet 17 On another post you were asking whether it is still possible to lose your mother tongue these days. As an example last night I was desperately searching for a word to put in my posting and it wouldnt come, I kept thinking of sleep apnae, narcolepsy and several others, until I read your post this morning with "insomnia"! I rest my case In my case I have had close to total immersion for 2 years as I live on my own and hence am not speaking English to a partner, apart from writing on this forum I converse in English maybe twice a week. Editted I also gave up English TV 4 months ago after being hospitalised and forced to watch French TV which surprise surprise I really liked. In hindsight (once again I struggled to find the english word for retrovision) I wish I had given it up long before or never started watching it. Sky TV is a major contributing factor to the number of English immigrants who never learn the language.    Report

08/11/2007, 12:54 sweet 17 Joined on 05/08/2006 charente maritime Posts 2,402 Re: Any recommendations for French authors to read? JR I will not be so ill-mannered as to ask you what charming and (possibly mature) age you have reached.  But, I do think that some of your description of not being able to remember words certainly comes from getting older. Sometimes, I have to describe something using 3, 4 or more sentences and yet, the word itself will elude me!  I find this profoundly annoying and I get very cross with myself when that happens. I'm quite convinced that you can get more fluent and comfortable in a tongue other than your mother tongue.  If a person lived in, say, France long enough and, like you, got little chance to speak their own tongue, then I can easily conceive of a time when they would feel more "natural" speaking French than English. One other thing that does interest me is that of accent.  Because I have lived in different parts of the UK, I have found myself speaking more like the people that I lived and worked with, whichever part of the UK that happened to be.  For example, because the last place I lived in was South Wales, I often meet people who tell me that I sound a bit Welsh!  I find that very strange (and alarming) indeed as I don't think that I have ever consciously adopted a Welsh accent. Now I am in France, many French people have complimented me on my French accent.  Mind you, I don't think I speak particularly well.  It's just that where we live, to find a Brit that speaks more than a few words of French is as rare as finding a truffle in your back garden! Kind regards, JR, and thank you for a thought-provoking post.    Report

08/11/2007, 18:02 J.R's gone native Joined on 16/07/2006 Picardie, Sussex Posts 1,828 Re: Any recommendations for French authors to read? J'ai quarante huit ans, mais je préfére dire <quarante ans> et marmotter <hors taxes> In French I am quite used to having to use a sentence to describe the word I am seeking, people are quite understanding and will usually tell me what it is. The problem that I have is that I do this more and more when speaking English, and because I have always been fairly erudite and the friends that I speak to have even less understanding of learning a second language than most of the French I encounter, they think that I am going senile. Which I probably would be (like them!) without the challenge of a new life in a new country. I will have my biggest ever challenge this weekend, if it works out as I hope I will report on it, if not I won't as I would be too embarrassed    Report

08/11/2007, 18:40 Phil & Pat Joined on 24/12/2006 Falaise, Calvados (14) Posts 170 Re: Any recommendations for French authors to read? Just thought I would come back to thank all those who have replied, we'll see what Falaise mediatheque can come up with next week. Please carry on with the conversation... Phil.    Report

08/11/2007, 18:46 sweet 17 Joined on 05/08/2006 charente maritime Posts 2,402 Re: Any recommendations for French authors to read? Why, JR, you are a mere sapling, a spring chicken, what have you!  I do what you have just described when I am stretching myself in French.  Went to the Bricolage place when we first came (last April) and asked for a door-stop.  Because I didn't know the word, I asked for something that stops the door banging on the wall.  I think I was told it was called a "buttoire" but the French people on the forum will tell me whether I heard right! I await to hear news of your biggest challenge.  Keep telling yourself you will sail through it and you will!  I am a great believer in the power of positive thought.  Good luck. PS.  Like you, we also came for the challenge and to expand our lives in retirement.    Report

08/11/2007, 18:54 Anton Redman Joined on 23/08/2004 Gironde Posts 2,051 Re: Any recommendations for French authors to read? The bible is strange and very hard going in French. I want the King James English version read at my cremation despite a firm conviction that God if he or she exists speaks and read Aramaic. Not mad on Jules Verne but if you like hard SF then he can be a good read. Chester Hymes and James Baldwin despite their roots are good fun in French if you know their books in Amerenglish.    Report

08/11/2007, 19:04 sweet 17 Joined on 05/08/2006 charente maritime Posts 2,402 Re: Any recommendations for French authors to read? Well, Anton, if you're going to have the King James bible, I think I might be allowed Shakespeare? Anyone know of any good books (simplified, abridged possibly) with parallel texts.  When I was learning Italian, I found such books very useful and enjoyable. Mind you, if it's Camus, don't bother to tell me.  I find him particularly difficult; must be my bird brain or my grasshopper mind (as my OH would have it)!    Report

08/11/2007, 19:21 raindog Joined on 26/09/2007 HERAULT Posts 780 Re: Any recommendations for French authors to read? I recently read L'Etranger and found it fascinating. (it also cleared up a bit of mystery surounding the lyrics of The Cure's Killing An Arab for me!) sociability is just a big smile and a big smile is nothing but teeth    Report

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France Forum » Leisure and Pas... » Books and Liter... » Re: Any recommendations for French authors to read?

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