Intro to Intermediate-Level French Novels
Develop Reading Skills and Vocabulary by Reading French Literature
Apr 16, 2009
Language students who know the major verb tenses, have a good understanding of intermediate grammar and are finally feeling comfortable with their French can use these novels to improve reading comprehension and broaden their French vocabulary. Reading is an effective method of developing language skills as well as deepening a language learner’s understanding of a foreign culture.
Classic French Novels for Language Learners
No French reading program would be complete without Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince (1942). This timeless fable about a pilot who crashes in the desert and meets a curious little boy claiming to be a Prince from a distant planet is written in clear, simple French. In theory a children’s book, this remarkable story has plenty of insight and wisdom for older readers.
Think Jean-Paul Sartre is too difficult for the average French student? Think again! One of Sartre’s lesser-known novels, Les Jeux Sont Faits (1947), is an entertaining illustration of Sartre’s existentialist philosophy written in straightforward and uncomplicated French. A love story with a beguiling twist, Les Jeux Sont Faits will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Françoise Sagan’s celebrated coming-of-age novel Bonjour Tristesse (1954) is another relatively simple French novel with much to offer a French language learner. The story follows 17-year-old Cécile through her difficult struggle to negotiate her father’s love affairs and takes the reader on a satisfying literary journey. Bonjour Tristesse is a short novel but packs an effective punch.
Philippe Claudel – a Contemporary Author Not to be Missed
Already a favorite in many university French language programs, La Petite Fille de Monsieur Linh (2005) is a lovely and unpretentious story of exile and friendship. Monsieur Linh is a refugee, adrift in a new city with only his granddaughter to keep him company until he meets Monsieur Bark, a recent widower. Despite their inability to communicate (a situation with which language learners will sympathize), the two men find companionship and support.
Claudel’s earlier novel, Les Âmes Grises (2003) is a short but riveting read about the mysterious murder of a little girl in a small French village during WWI. The book treats the complicated themes of war, death and love but Claudel’s unaffected style and careful use of language make this an ideal novel for someone studying French.
Ideas for Further Reading
Reading young adult fiction is another way for a language learner to improve reading skills and build vocabulary – these books tend to be written in simple French but still deal with important themes and may be more interesting for adult readers than the conventional children’s stories often used in language classes. One author to look for is Anna Gavalda, who writes for both adults and children.
Many French novels and plays have been adapted for film. Consider reading the book and then watching the film or read and watch in tandem. Edmond Rostand’s famous play Cyrano de Bergerac (1897) was made into a celebrated film with the same title in 1990 starring French actor Gerard Depardieu. This contemporary adaptation follows the original dialogue quite closely and provides a unique opportunity for reading and watching in parallel.
Language learning takes on greater depth when accompanied by careful reading of the foreign literature – a valuable method to build vocabulary, strengthen grammar foundations and immerse oneself in an unfamiliar culture.
For further suggestions, see Intermediate Classic French Novels for Students
