{"id":84698,"date":"2018-01-31T08:45:14","date_gmt":"2018-01-30T21:45:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theproject.com.au\/myfrenchlife\/?p=84698"},"modified":"2018-03-23T07:00:32","modified_gmt":"2018-03-22T20:00:32","slug":"french-book-club-french-best-sellers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theproject.com.au\/myfrenchlife\/2018\/01\/31\/french-book-club-french-best-sellers\/","title":{"rendered":"MyFrenchLife\u2122\u00a0French Book Club: recently translated French best-sellers \u2013 top 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MyFrenchLife\u2122<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

We are thrilled to announce yet another opportunity to read French books\u00a0\u2013 but this time, in English. Welcome to the launch of our new branch of the MyFrenchLife\u2122 French Book Club \u2013 ‘recently translated French best-sellers’ and award-winning novels.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You are invited to join our 2018 reading challenges<\/a>: one reading in French<\/strong> (see base of article) and the other reading in English<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 this one!<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll be consulting our French literature experts to bring you new and exciting reviews of recently translated French best-sellers<\/a>. We promise to dig deep and share our most intimate opinions, interpretations, and perceptions of France\u2019s\u00a0best literary translations\u00a0\u2013 and we\u2019d love you to do the same!<\/p>\n

As you get ready to embark on this enriching and fun-filled adventure, we’d love you to share your reviews and opinions in the comments box below. Every voice matters \u2013 especially yours. Join the reading, join the fun, and get involved NOW!<\/p>\n

What to expect of the<\/strong> ‘Reading French best-sellers in English’ branch of our French Book Club?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jacqueline Dubois Pasquier will be your facilitator, so over to her to explain what to expect and how she came up with this concept.<\/p>\n

Thank you, Jacqueline.<\/p>\n

Newly-translated French fiction: gaining momentum abroad<\/span><\/h2>\n

To what extent do you know French contemporary fiction? What kind of fiction do the French enjoy reading?<\/p>\n

As 2018 dawned, among articles on new resolutions, feminism debates, The Golden Globes, Trump and\u00a0Brexit<\/a> (nothing new, then), I was struck by something that seemed unusual.<\/p>\n

I came across a significant number of reviews for the English publication of 2016 Goncourt prize-winner \u2018Une Chanson Douce<\/em>\u2019 by Leila Slimani. Her novel was given two different titles in English; \u2018The Perfect Nanny\u2019 in the US, and \u2018Lullaby\u2019 in the UK.<\/p>\n

\"MyFrenchLife\u2122<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s interesting to consider the reasons for so much publicity, as normally, new French fiction does not get much attention abroad<\/a>. In this case, however, it\u2019s important to note that the young Moroccan-born author has just been appointed by Emmanuel Macron as Francophone affairs minister,<\/a> representing the open face of Francophonie to a multicultural world.<\/p>\n

In bookstores in non-French speaking countries, you wouldn\u2019t usually find French novels in the \u2018best-selling\u2019 or \u2018new arrivals\u2019 sections.\u00a0That is unless the manager is an outright Francophile.<\/p>\n

Finding excellent translated French best-sellers<\/span><\/h3>\n

It was then that I realized how confusing it could be when trying to delve deeply into literature from another country (France in this case). I found myself thinking how difficult it could be to search for that perfectly translated book<\/a> in any random bookstore.<\/p>\n

The challenge could be exacerbated if you weren’t fluent enough to read the original in French. The search could end up with an unplanned landing in the Classics aisle for example. For French literature that\u2019s where you\u2019d expect to find Victor Hugo<\/a> and Emile Zola for the 19th<\/sup> century, or Albert Camus and Marcel Proust for the 20th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n

It is easy to become \u2018lost in translation\u2019 when you try to immerse yourself in foreign contemporary literature.<\/p>\n

Contemporary French best-sellers: the reading challenge<\/span><\/h3>\n

Luckily, most French best-selling or talked-about living authors are translated into English.<\/p>\n

You just need a little help or some direction to get to know them.<\/p>\n

I therefore humbly offer to give that guidance, in the hope you will enjoy the journey through it.<\/p>\n

\"MyFrenchLife\u2122<\/a><\/p>\n

I’ve selected five expertly translated French best-sellers<\/strong> to read over the course of 2018.<\/p>\n

I suggest we give ourselves one to two months to read each book from the reading list below.<\/p>\n