Innisfree Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 (edited) Does anyone know a good memoir or possibly fiction set in France? I'd love to find some appealing books for dd17, who is studying French and dreaming of possible study abroad in college. I've read On Rue Tatin and enjoyed it, and I see some other memoirs related to cooking, like Mastering the Art of French Eating. Dd isn't very interested in food, though, and I wondered if anyone could suggest some other, more general possibilities. In case it's helpful, dd has loved Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce books. A set of mysteries might work, but nothing really scary-- no psychological thrillers, lol. But also, if there's anything like a French classic equivalent to Anne of Green Gables, or The Penderwicks, that might be good-- sort of cozy French adolescent fiction, but available in English. Or maybe with a historical bent, as she also loves Latin and Roman history. I'll be very grateful for any suggestions. Edited November 21, 2019 by Innisfree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 Has she already read the Asterix books? I remember enjoying those when I studied French. Books I've enjoyed: French Milk: Lucy Knisley My Grape Year by Laura Bradbury Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod Is she a Harry Potter fan? If so, Harry Potter a l'ecole des sorciers Regards, Kareni 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innisfree Posted November 21, 2019 Author Share Posted November 21, 2019 Thank you! She has read Asterix. I did think about getting them in French, but I don't think she's ready to figure out the puns in a language she's just started. Not much of a Harry Potter fan, sadly. Fantasy does not seem to be her cup of tea. I'll check out the books you linked. At first glance, they look like she might really enjoy them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madteaparty Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 (edited) Not about France but set in Paris are Elegance of the Hedgehog and Sarah’s Key (not cozy this last one) this is out of print I think but a small little more school like book: The Road from the Past: Traveling through History in France Edited November 21, 2019 by madteaparty 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innisfree Posted November 21, 2019 Author Share Posted November 21, 2019 Set in Paris will work, thanks! I'll check them out. I think I actually have Elegance of the Hedgehog sitting in a pile waiting for me to get around to reading it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junie Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 In the past few years I've read quite a bit of French literature/literature set in France. (In English -- my French is still at the beginner level.) The Three Musketeers The Man in the Iron Mask The Hunchback of Notre Dame The Song of Roland -- ancient French poetry. I enjoyed it, but I realize that many won't. Cyrano de Bergerac -- a French play -- highly recommended, especially for anyone who likes Shakespeare. The Phantom of the Opera Les Miserables Scaramouche -- similar to The Three Musketeers, but it much shorter and I found it more accessible. The Scarlet Pimpernel -- on my list to be read 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy the Valiant Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 The Avion My Uncle Flew 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 The Scarlet Pimpernel is a favorite here, both the book and the movie. Ds can imitate him exactly. "Sink me!" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 (edited) Desiree by Annemarie Selinko (trans. from German) is historical fiction about a French girl who became a girlfriend of Napoleon (pre-Josephine), eventually married a Marshall of France, and, because her husband was adopted as heir by the Swedish king, ended up queen of Sweden. There are some historical inaccuracies, but it's enjoyable reading and appropriate for a teen. Edited November 21, 2019 by klmama 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 YA... Anna and the French Kiss sounds like it might be the book you want. A total YA study abroad light romance book. I can think of things... but nothing that's necessarily just right. Often these lists aren't great, but the Goodreads "shelf" of popular books tagged as "set in France" actually has a lot of variety. I thought of All the Light You Cannot See... beautiful book. And that Edward Rutherford book about Paris... he writes long, quick read historical epics. Very light but thick. And A Year in Provence. None of these seem exactly right, but maybe you can browse through...https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/books-set-in-france 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madteaparty Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 (edited) Adding more. DS went to a talk at the American library recently by an author that writes YA set in Paris, I don’t know anything about her except this and her name, Amy Plum. Eta that this is not a book but there is a french show in Netflix (it’s called Ten Percent in France and Call my agent in US Netflix)....my own french is crap and I’m able to watch with French subtitles (no English subtitles avail here but DH tells me it has English subtitles in the US). It’s charming and easy and cute and it’s improving my french, I fancy. Edited November 23, 2019 by madteaparty 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 The Invention of Hugo Cabret Not so happy stories but set in France (or partly): A Tale of Two Cities The Scarlet Pimpernel Les Miserables 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bibiche Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 (edited) How about Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence? If she can read at a basic level in French, there is a historical fiction series by Evelyne Brisou-Pellen called Les Messagers du temps that she might like. Here's the first in the series: https://www.amazon.fr/Messagers-temps-Rendez-vous-Alésia/dp/2070617971 Edited November 21, 2019 by bibiche 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innisfree Posted November 21, 2019 Author Share Posted November 21, 2019 Thank you all so much, this gives me lots of good choices! Off to read on Amazon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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