Who else is the French Hemingway
February 20, 2008 7:16 AM Subscribe
What French literature is relatively easy to read?
A couple of years ago I taught myself to read French and got so far as to read Camus (L'Etranger) and Houellebecq (Extension du domain de la lutte). Basically I asked around who the "French Hemingway" is, i.e. engaging and literary but with short sentences and small words, was told Camus and Houellebecq, and I found these two books in nifty editions with all the difficult words defined on the bottom margin. Now my French is shit and I have to get it back up to speed. Who else is the French Hemingway? I have Madame Bovary here -- should I bother? Also, is Sartre's Nausea easy to read? I study philosophy, so it would be nice if I could combine these interests. My level right now is that I can sort of read Le Monde if the context is Obama and I just drank some coffee. Ideally I would like to work up to reading philosophical literature in the next two months.
A couple of years ago I taught myself to read French and got so far as to read Camus (L'Etranger) and Houellebecq (Extension du domain de la lutte). Basically I asked around who the "French Hemingway" is, i.e. engaging and literary but with short sentences and small words, was told Camus and Houellebecq, and I found these two books in nifty editions with all the difficult words defined on the bottom margin. Now my French is shit and I have to get it back up to speed. Who else is the French Hemingway? I have Madame Bovary here -- should I bother? Also, is Sartre's Nausea easy to read? I study philosophy, so it would be nice if I could combine these interests. My level right now is that I can sort of read Le Monde if the context is Obama and I just drank some coffee. Ideally I would like to work up to reading philosophical literature in the next two months.
Some years ago, a friend sent me a charming little book called "Marie la Fourmi" (I think). It's a story about a little ant and her adventures. I loved it. Sorry, I can't remember the author, but it had a lot of lovely pictures, which helped me follow along quite well in spite of my very much lacking knowledge of French.
posted by amtho at 7:20 AM on February 20, 2008
posted by amtho at 7:20 AM on February 20, 2008
I remember Victor Hugo's poetry being fairly easy to read, although it isn't philosophical (although neither is Hemingway).
posted by bluenausea at 7:26 AM on February 20, 2008
posted by bluenausea at 7:26 AM on February 20, 2008
Candide is pretty easy, we read it in one of my early French classes.
posted by rmless at 7:30 AM on February 20, 2008
posted by rmless at 7:30 AM on February 20, 2008
One of my favorite French books is Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Laclos... it was one of the first I read in college French lit classes, and I remember finding it pretty easy to read. It's long, but it's such a good book, too!
Thanks for this question, I need to go pull that book off my shelf and read it again!
posted by uvaleg at 7:31 AM on February 20, 2008
Thanks for this question, I need to go pull that book off my shelf and read it again!
posted by uvaleg at 7:31 AM on February 20, 2008
If you're into plays, Cyrano de Bergerac is most excellent and a must. We read it in French class, so the vocab itself isn't too far ahead.
Also, if you haven't already, Le Petit Prince. Duh.
I found Madame Bovary exceedingly dull, but YMMV.
posted by Phire at 7:37 AM on February 20, 2008
Also, if you haven't already, Le Petit Prince. Duh.
I found Madame Bovary exceedingly dull, but YMMV.
posted by Phire at 7:37 AM on February 20, 2008
Not entirely what you're asking for, but Simenon's Inspector Maigret books were my favorite thing to read in French class for the reasons you mentioned--there's something about the straightforward action, crisp descriptions, and simple interrogations that really helped "nail" the language for me. And in some ways that stripped down simplicity could be considered Hemingway-esque. They might do as something to keep your brain active in between the heavy philosophy sessions.
posted by bcwinters at 7:38 AM on February 20, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by bcwinters at 7:38 AM on February 20, 2008 [2 favorites]
If you like Hemingway, why not read him in French?
posted by drinkcoffee at 7:42 AM on February 20, 2008
posted by drinkcoffee at 7:42 AM on February 20, 2008
I liked Madame Bovary! Seconding Candide, or any Voltaire, really. He occasionally spells things the old-fashioned way, but you can get modern editions with modernized spellings (and it isn't too bad with the old spellings anyway).
I just finished Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky and I loved loved loved it. It's a bit difficult, but keep a good dictionary nearby and your vocabulary will improve.
For non-literary: the entire Maigret series by Simenon. Simple sentences, vocab not too hard, and super-engaging. They are the absolute best kind of police procedurals.
posted by ohio at 7:43 AM on February 20, 2008
I just finished Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky and I loved loved loved it. It's a bit difficult, but keep a good dictionary nearby and your vocabulary will improve.
For non-literary: the entire Maigret series by Simenon. Simple sentences, vocab not too hard, and super-engaging. They are the absolute best kind of police procedurals.
posted by ohio at 7:43 AM on February 20, 2008
Maybe it's a little too lowbrow for your reading level, but Le Petit Prince is a beautiful book.
Simenon's a great recommendation too.
posted by box at 8:02 AM on February 20, 2008
Simenon's a great recommendation too.
posted by box at 8:02 AM on February 20, 2008
I'm in the same position as you. Candide was great, and I enjoyed reading the first Harry Potter book more in French than in English. My next choice would be to continue with that series.
posted by chinston at 8:06 AM on February 20, 2008
posted by chinston at 8:06 AM on February 20, 2008
Is Moliere hard? He's certainly funny.
posted by bluenausea at 8:24 AM on February 20, 2008
posted by bluenausea at 8:24 AM on February 20, 2008
Not particularly "Hemingway", but Le Grand Meaulnes by Alain-Fournier and Zazie Dans Le Metro by Raymond Queanu are pretty darn good, and fairly easy to get through.
posted by gyusan at 8:27 AM on February 20, 2008
posted by gyusan at 8:27 AM on February 20, 2008
Seconding the Maigret books. I know Simenon isn't exactly literature, but when I studied French a million years ago I found his books very accessible and they enabled me to make quick progress to other authors.
I'd also recommend Guy de Maupassant's short stories too.
posted by essexjan at 9:10 AM on February 20, 2008
I'd also recommend Guy de Maupassant's short stories too.
posted by essexjan at 9:10 AM on February 20, 2008
My French is seriously rusty so I'm not sure how much help I'm going to be, but as a French lit student I found plays far more readable than novels. Try Huis clos if you're interested in Sartre. I'm not sure whether La cantatrice chauve would be your cup of tea... it's readable but really weird.
Probably waaay below your level, but Le petit Nicolas is the most awesome thing I have ever read in French, and I'd strongly recommend it if you're willing to look beyond Serious Literature.
posted by Metroid Baby at 9:19 AM on February 20, 2008
Probably waaay below your level, but Le petit Nicolas is the most awesome thing I have ever read in French, and I'd strongly recommend it if you're willing to look beyond Serious Literature.
posted by Metroid Baby at 9:19 AM on February 20, 2008
Response by poster: Simenon sounds perfect. I'd like to end up able to read philosophical literature, but I have to start with small words. Instead of Hemingway I could have said "the French Raymond Chandler". I'll check out Candide too, but I think I tried to read that back when I was good and found it somehow off-putting, although I laughed when the guy got syphilis. I tried reading Celine's Journey to the End of the Night back then and remember finding it difficult...isn't it full of slang? I would love to read Celine in the original one of these days. ... I don't want to re-read L'Etranger, is there another Camus work you can recommend? Thanks for all the responses so far.
posted by creasy boy at 9:33 AM on February 20, 2008
posted by creasy boy at 9:33 AM on February 20, 2008
Jules Verne seems reasonably easy, and there's a lot of his stuff at Project Gutenberg (in both French and English, if you want to do your own dual-language setup). Not a major philosopher, though.
posted by kristi at 9:54 AM on February 20, 2008
posted by kristi at 9:54 AM on February 20, 2008
Everybody mentionned the classics and they are very good recommendations. If you are looking for something more recent, I recommend Amélie Nothomb, a joy to read.
posted by racingjs at 10:08 AM on February 20, 2008
posted by racingjs at 10:08 AM on February 20, 2008
Proust? Easy? WTF?? Same goes for Flaubert, Céline, and Queneau—great writing, but by no means easy if you're still struggling with the language. I second Simenon, and detective novels in general are probably a good way to get your French up to speed. Oh, and Beckett—En attendant Godot is one of the funniest things I've ever read, and as I recall the French is pretty simple.
posted by languagehat at 10:56 AM on February 20, 2008
posted by languagehat at 10:56 AM on February 20, 2008
Oh, and for a slightly different twist on French literature ... Asterix is where it's at, man.
(You will learn a lot, I promise. There's so much wordplay and reference it's not even funny.)
posted by bettafish at 11:43 AM on February 20, 2008
(You will learn a lot, I promise. There's so much wordplay and reference it's not even funny.)
posted by bettafish at 11:43 AM on February 20, 2008
Mme Bovary is a great novel (especially if you research the symbolism of it all a bit first) but I agree with languagehat, it ain't exactly easy stuff if your French is "shit". I speak fluent French and didn't really struggle with it but it wasn't a breeze either.
I found Ravage by Réné Barjavel a good read - written in the 40's and set in a distant future where electricity disappears. Also readable (and pretty short) is Les Choses by Georges Perec, a tale of 2 twentysomethings in the 60's. Longer and more ambitious is La Vie Mode d'Emploi, also by Perec which tells the story of a single Parisian apartment building. It's conceived as a jigsaw with each chapter a piece of the puzzle. Very cleverly done and purely all descriptive writing - quite something.
I second Waiting for Godot - straightforward language wise, but one of the all-time classics. IIRC Beckett originally wrote the French version then translated it hinself into English.
And on preview, French comics are great. Astérix, Tintin, Gaston Lagaffe, Les Bidochon - all good stuff.
posted by jontyjago at 11:54 AM on February 20, 2008
I found Ravage by Réné Barjavel a good read - written in the 40's and set in a distant future where electricity disappears. Also readable (and pretty short) is Les Choses by Georges Perec, a tale of 2 twentysomethings in the 60's. Longer and more ambitious is La Vie Mode d'Emploi, also by Perec which tells the story of a single Parisian apartment building. It's conceived as a jigsaw with each chapter a piece of the puzzle. Very cleverly done and purely all descriptive writing - quite something.
I second Waiting for Godot - straightforward language wise, but one of the all-time classics. IIRC Beckett originally wrote the French version then translated it hinself into English.
And on preview, French comics are great. Astérix, Tintin, Gaston Lagaffe, Les Bidochon - all good stuff.
posted by jontyjago at 11:54 AM on February 20, 2008
Proust? Easy? WTF?? Same goes for Flaubert, Céline, and Queneau—great writing, but by no means easy if you're still struggling with the language.
Agreed. They're all great, just not easy.
Guy de Maupassant, once you get past the aspects of his writing that are now archaic, is pretty easy. I remember reading him in grade 6-8 French immersion classes. Cyrano de Bergerac was a few years beyond that (grade 10, maybe).
Again, it may be too easy, but Le petit prince never fails.
I've read a little Simenon, and I'd recommend him as well.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 12:54 PM on February 20, 2008
Agreed. They're all great, just not easy.
Guy de Maupassant, once you get past the aspects of his writing that are now archaic, is pretty easy. I remember reading him in grade 6-8 French immersion classes. Cyrano de Bergerac was a few years beyond that (grade 10, maybe).
Again, it may be too easy, but Le petit prince never fails.
I've read a little Simenon, and I'd recommend him as well.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 12:54 PM on February 20, 2008
Also, try to read the books you already know well in French.
If you can, try to find a French-language book shop and ask about teen novels. It won't be great reading, but it'll allow you to specify your reading level within a certain age range, and work onto heavier novels from there.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 12:56 PM on February 20, 2008
If you can, try to find a French-language book shop and ask about teen novels. It won't be great reading, but it'll allow you to specify your reading level within a certain age range, and work onto heavier novels from there.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 12:56 PM on February 20, 2008
I'd forget all the classics and the stuff you'd read in French class. If you're working on keeping up or improving your French, it shouldn't be a chore or a struggle. In that vein, I would recommend the Arsène Lupin mystery stories by Maurice Leblanc. The collection I linked to there is one of three volumes of the collected stories. Lots of text, plenty of action, plenty of dialogue, good fun. It's a little dated, but I don't think it will harm your French.
I think the Maigret recomendation above is also good.
posted by Mo Nickels at 1:06 PM on February 20, 2008
I think the Maigret recomendation above is also good.
posted by Mo Nickels at 1:06 PM on February 20, 2008
IIRC Beckett originally wrote the French version then translated it hinself into English.
Yup, all of Beckett's major works were originally written in French.
posted by languagehat at 1:19 PM on February 20, 2008
Yup, all of Beckett's major works were originally written in French.
posted by languagehat at 1:19 PM on February 20, 2008
I seem to recall La vie devant soi by Romain Gary as easy enough to read.. there is slang but it will explain that to you.
posted by citron at 3:10 PM on February 20, 2008
posted by citron at 3:10 PM on February 20, 2008
Ooooh, Ravage! Yes, it's fantastic, and very accessible without being boring.
I was going to recommend Jules Valles to you as well. L'enfant It's a semi autobiographical book about this man's lifeYou might need to occasionally look up an event or person he talks about, as it's very much centred around late 19th century Paris & the Commune, but it's a great book about growing up , finding your own mind, rejecting or embracing your past, what makes a political radical... with a lot of sly humour along the way.
If you're aiming for more literary French, you've already had some great suggestions. I'd add Rimbaud's poetry if you want to move beyond Baudelaire.
If you're comfortable enough with your French to understand a lot of slang & casual speech, Marcel Gotlib has some great comics. Give the Dingodossiers he did with Rene Goscinny Rubrique a Brac a try (if you can find them).
posted by Grrlscout at 3:19 PM on February 20, 2008
I was going to recommend Jules Valles to you as well. L'enfant It's a semi autobiographical book about this man's lifeYou might need to occasionally look up an event or person he talks about, as it's very much centred around late 19th century Paris & the Commune, but it's a great book about growing up , finding your own mind, rejecting or embracing your past, what makes a political radical... with a lot of sly humour along the way.
If you're aiming for more literary French, you've already had some great suggestions. I'd add Rimbaud's poetry if you want to move beyond Baudelaire.
If you're comfortable enough with your French to understand a lot of slang & casual speech, Marcel Gotlib has some great comics. Give the Dingodossiers he did with Rene Goscinny Rubrique a Brac a try (if you can find them).
posted by Grrlscout at 3:19 PM on February 20, 2008
Response by poster: Thank you again. Actually I have Nothomb here on my shelf for some reason, and I'll be ordering everything else from the library, except I think I'll definitely take a rain-check on the Proust.
posted by creasy boy at 1:39 AM on February 21, 2008
posted by creasy boy at 1:39 AM on February 21, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by creasy boy at 7:16 AM on February 20, 2008