tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28165993.post4730776805871982750..comments2024-01-19T11:05:43.355-05:00Comments on Polly-Vous Francais?: Suite francaisePolly-Vous Francaishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667479743723002691noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28165993.post-25446259895447963472011-04-06T11:50:06.963-04:002011-04-06T11:50:06.963-04:00I read it in English, and I have to say that I was...I read it in English, and I have to say that I was surprised by how readable the translation was. I think with translation there's a tough judgement call to be made between sticking to the author's intent to the detriment of the flow of the English version, and making a book that a reader can enjoy. I often hate translations because they are just so badly written. I would tend to vote for a well-written if inaccurate translation, myself, because it's more enjoyable. What a good book though - the history of it lends it such poignancy. I should go back and read it again - and this time in French, so as not to miss anything...Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15795849622508077827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28165993.post-13469588586905522392011-04-04T14:25:13.035-04:002011-04-04T14:25:13.035-04:00I'm just reading another of Irene Nemirovsky&#...I'm just reading another of Irene Nemirovsky's books - Jezebel (in translation) - it portrays a character and period that are so intriguing! Her book of short stories - Dimanche and other stories - does the same - somehow, her "Russian-ness" comes through, I think.Sallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28165993.post-47778839030909647632011-04-02T07:01:45.092-04:002011-04-02T07:01:45.092-04:00Another interesting book is "Paris Under Wate...Another interesting book is "Paris Under Water - How the City of Light Survived the Great Flood of 1910," by Jeffrey H. Jackson.Ricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28165993.post-67302483595793495182011-03-31T15:00:08.546-04:002011-03-31T15:00:08.546-04:00Thanks to you, Polly, and to the other commenters ...Thanks to you, Polly, and to the other commenters here for the great reading suggestions. I'm almost fresh out of France/French-related books, and I need to keep my inspiration up while I'm writing my own!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07073968486721141173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28165993.post-79317958342932270622011-03-30T19:47:59.923-04:002011-03-30T19:47:59.923-04:00I read Suite Francaise in Paris in the spring of 0...I read Suite Francaise in Paris in the spring of 09--a beautiful 6 month period in which I was on a university exchange with Paris 3, while my husband was at Paris X (we had our 2 daughters with us). This has to be the best way to read this novel. I also read Fire in the Blood; you are now making me want to read the original French (which I would struggle through!). That semester I read a lot of fiction in English that happened to be in the apartment I was renting, and some of it also concerned WWII--The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford. You are bringing the whole thing back for me right now!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28165993.post-35986945240658753942011-03-30T11:20:28.856-04:002011-03-30T11:20:28.856-04:00I am about to read this book as well! I do have to...I am about to read this book as well! I do have to admit that I do find some characters and actions a bit stereotypical. Especially gender clichés are stressed quite heavily. I am reading the <a href="http://www.rosettatranslation.com/language/spanish_translation/" rel="nofollow"> Spanish translation </a> though-would be interesting to read the original of course. And the circumstances under which this book what written are of course shocking.Juliana Gregornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28165993.post-56652074330516461122011-03-30T07:27:00.034-04:002011-03-30T07:27:00.034-04:00Yes, I read it in French, and I was enthralled. It...Yes, I read it in French, and I was enthralled. It has the additional interest of having been written more or less contemporaneously, so with the minimum of historical hindsight, which makes it all the more poignant - we know what she seems not to have anticipated.Autolycushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17642868944400656922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28165993.post-8527589471994803312011-03-30T02:45:25.478-04:002011-03-30T02:45:25.478-04:00This translation isn't the best, I'm afrai...This translation isn't the best, I'm afraid-- I compared the French and English in preparation for a translation exam, and found entire sentences just left out of the English.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28165993.post-8184652769904852582011-03-30T02:03:42.816-04:002011-03-30T02:03:42.816-04:00Yes! It's on my list of recommended books for...Yes! It's on my list of recommended books for Francophiles:<br /><br />http://justanotheramericaninparis.blogspot.com/2009/08/recommended-reading.html<br /><br />Sarah's Key is awesome too although part of the emotional power of Suite Francaise is knowing that it was written contemporaneously with the events depicted.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09601542052605334407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28165993.post-29787330653980100392011-03-30T00:36:31.518-04:002011-03-30T00:36:31.518-04:00Deja Pseu, I totally agree, and I'm only halfw...Deja Pseu, I totally agree, and I'm only halfway through the novel.<br /><br />Rick, Thanks for the recommendation. A friend lent me "Sarah's Key" but I had to return it when moving before having the chance to read it. I look forward to reading it!<br /><br />I am so drawn to this period in French history, having older friends --and college professors -- who lived through it. Paris during the war. The Exodus.<br /><br />And having read Janet Flanner's "Paris was Yesterday" trilogy, columns from the New Yorker, which got me started in the first place.Polly-Vous Francaishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12667479743723002691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28165993.post-80050533614601642102011-03-30T00:11:11.234-04:002011-03-30T00:11:11.234-04:00Read the book a number of years ago. Very good. Ha...Read the book a number of years ago. Very good. Have you read, "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana de Rosnay? If not check it out....Ricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28165993.post-8612007419054106922011-03-29T23:35:05.788-04:002011-03-29T23:35:05.788-04:00Read this book last year and loved it! The charac...Read this book last year and loved it! The characters and stories were really engaging.Susan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005855250089328310noreply@blogger.com