Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Thread to discuss foreign reading

67 replies

Taswama · 30/12/2020 23:08

So, this is to share the books you are reading/ have read in a foreign language.
I read in French and German, but other languages welcome too.

OP posts:
Original poster
Taswama · 09/01/2021 19:59

@highlandcoo @MaMaLa321 @IsFuzzyBeagMise
Have you all got your books, was there anyone else joining in?

OP posts:
Original poster
Taswama · 07/01/2021 17:47

My book has arrived.

OP posts:
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 07/01/2021 12:36

Yes! Smile

MaMaLa321 · 07/01/2021 12:04

sounds good by me.

highlandcoo · 07/01/2021 11:20

I think a separate thread with the book's name in the title would be a good idea

MaMaLa321 · 07/01/2021 08:58

I'm quite happy to wait fuzzy.
I was wondering about a separate thread too. What do others think?

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 07/01/2021 08:51

Sorry for the delay! I'll catch up if you want to start sooner.

We could start a separate thread for this, perhaps?

MaMaLa321 · 07/01/2021 08:13

I think we're waiting for IsFuzzyBeagMise and Taswama to get their copies, then we can go.

highlandcoo · 06/01/2021 21:04

@IsFuzzyBeagMise

I wish mine would hurry up! We could read one or two every week and have a discussion on a Sunday, perhaps?
Good idea!
highlandcoo · 06/01/2021 21:03

@MaMaLa321

this one? ]] Welcome on board fuzzy
That's it exactly! Sorry for the slow reply.
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 06/01/2021 20:00

I wish mine would hurry up! We could read one or two every week and have a discussion on a Sunday, perhaps?

MaMaLa321 · 06/01/2021 16:59

My copy has arrived. I know we'll wait until all of us have a copy, but has anyone any thoughts of how we're going to do this?

Original poster
Taswama · 05/01/2021 16:12

Great idea Mama . I've ordered a copy too.

OP posts:
MaMaLa321 · 05/01/2021 10:47

ordered! I think the one with the more arty cover that I first suggested is a newer edition, but I've ordered the 2012 one .

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 05/01/2021 00:16

Thank you MaMaLa321! Great idea, I'm looking forward to it! I've just ordered the book. Delivery on the 18th of January as I'm in Ireland.

MaMaLa321 · 05/01/2021 00:02

this one?
link
Welcome on board fuzzy

highlandcoo · 04/01/2021 23:19

@MaMaLa321

is this it? ]] If it is, I'll order it and let you know when it comes. Does anyone else fancy joining in?
I think it may be the same book but the cover is different. The translator is the same though. The one I have, you can find on Amazon by typing in the title (sorry I don't know how to do a link) and the cover is more modern with "English français" vertically on the left-hand side. Costs £9.69 for the paperback and is in stock.
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 04/01/2021 23:08

I'll join in :)

AngryPrincess · 04/01/2021 22:28

It’s Le Grand Cahier by Agota Kristoff. (was recommended to me at a bookshop in Montreal). (in the good old days, when we could travel)

AngryPrincess · 04/01/2021 22:25

I like Dany LaFerriere’s books, L’Odeur du Cafe is very good and simple. I read Le Cahier, (about the twins). Good, but disturbing. I like the idea of instantly translation on Kindle or kobo!

MaMaLa321 · 04/01/2021 22:10

is this it?
link
If it is, I'll order it and let you know when it comes.
Does anyone else fancy joining in?

highlandcoo · 04/01/2021 21:44

Good idea Mama.

It was me who mentioned the short stories. I imagine my son bought them on Amazon. It would be good to have someone to discuss the details with. I have no one in real life who wants to do that! I've only read the first story so far.

Alternatively, Le Chapeau de Mitterand would also work well if that appeals? Happy to reread.

MaMaLa321 · 04/01/2021 13:01

I'm reading the correspondence of Margaret of Austria, from the early 16th century in French.
One day I aim to read a Colette novel, probably The Vagabond, in the original French. I find it very interesting to see how different the tone of different translations are.
I would be up for reading a novel alongside others, chapter by chapter. It would have to be in French, but the short stories mentioned at the start of the thread sound interesting. Would anyone like to join me?

SOLINVICTUS · 02/01/2021 22:29

I'll join you if I may though can't promise to actually read very much. My degree is French and Spanish and I've lived in Italy for 27 years (and have never read one single book in Italian Shock)
I did dig out some of the books I read at university and while living in Spain and got round to rereading my absolute favourite last year which is Requiem por un campesino español which is a Graham Green-esque short novel about a priest, a peasant and the Civil War.
I'd like to reread the books I did for German A level but after so many years I don't think I'd understand much. Des Teufels General was my favourite (a play) and I liked Dantons Tod as well which sparked a lasting interest in the French Revolution though it was odd to learn so much about it in German. Confused
I've read Luis Zafon in translation and we've got him in English, Spanish and Italian as DD is studying Spanish and wanted to read it in the original.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 02/01/2021 17:39

Hello! Thank you for the recommendations for the books in French. I have some 'Maigret' books on the kindle and am working my way through them slowly. I'll see if I can recommend any others. I read 'Madame Bovary' in college a long time ago. I might reread it by doing a chapter a day.