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Re: Ambitious. Camilla Send a noteboard - 25/01/2011 06:20:12 PM
I decided to plunge in and start Les Misérables. I have never actually read the book and am familiar with the themes solely as the result of having been dragged to the Broadway musical. After 50 pages that breezed by (I only had to look up one word) with a simple, unobstructed prose that reminds me of Tolstoy's Russian, I am enjoying the book so far. Of course, it's 1500 pages so it's going to take a while.

I've never read that one, either. Somehow it's never really appealed to me much - the length, the depressing content - but I suppose at some point I should read it.

After that I'm thinking of reading something by Molière or Sartre (probably Tartuffe or La Nausée). By that time I'm hoping that my German will be refreshed enough to read Kafka or Schnitzler and so that will be my "challenge" reading, whereas Druon will be for fun. I think that a solid year of French reading is needed to make sure my vocabulary doesn't slip again (and I'm going to do the same with German).

Tartuffe, or Molière's work in general really, is something else I've not read but don't seem to have too much interest in reading. No doubt I'm doing it an injustice, but I'd rather read more Racine.

Reading Kafka in German is not a bad idea, though... I do want to read more in German, it's just most German classics seem so tiresome. But I might read Kafka.


You should read Benjamin and Nietzsche and Mann.
They make me want to learn German. So if you already know it, you should profit.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
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/Discussion: Madame Bovary Tom - 20/01/2011 06:22:50 PM 8877 Views
Re: /Review: Madame Bovary Camilla - 20/01/2011 07:20:36 PM 2259 Views
Emma didn't try to transcend her world. She tried to escape it. And she failed. Miserably. Tom - 21/01/2011 06:25:36 AM 1694 Views
I agree with much of what you say. Legolas - 20/01/2011 07:57:57 PM 2565 Views
I'm glad to hear that the read wasn't easy for you, either. Tom - 21/01/2011 06:30:00 AM 1682 Views
Yeah, I think it's safe to say some of those words would give even native speakers pause. Legolas - 21/01/2011 06:37:02 PM 2272 Views
I'm certain it was intentional. Tom - 21/01/2011 07:21:45 PM 1652 Views
I want to read two more "serious" works before skipping over to Druon. Tom - 22/01/2011 06:03:09 PM 2035 Views
Ambitious. Legolas - 22/01/2011 06:26:59 PM 1857 Views
Re: Ambitious. Camilla - 25/01/2011 06:20:12 PM 2731 Views
I don't think I've even heard of Benjamin. Legolas - 25/01/2011 09:41:55 PM 1635 Views
Walter Benjamin Camilla - 25/01/2011 10:00:13 PM 2755 Views
I think he was the youngest son of Jacob. *NM* Tom - 26/01/2011 05:16:26 AM 874 Views
I'm halfway through the second part now Larry - 20/01/2011 11:58:01 PM 1876 Views
I'm interested to see what you think when you finish. Tom - 21/01/2011 06:31:58 AM 1659 Views
I hope to be done with it this evening Larry - 22/01/2011 05:09:23 PM 2115 Views
My thoughts Larry - 24/01/2011 06:48:13 AM 2456 Views
Never beats the reader across the head, eh? So what do you make of the ending? Legolas - 24/01/2011 10:39:06 PM 2264 Views
The ending fits with the rest of the book, I believe Larry - 24/01/2011 11:04:02 PM 2343 Views
Hm. I think maybe it's because you've read the book before, as Tom admitted. Legolas - 25/01/2011 09:40:36 PM 2190 Views
Your comments are one of the reasons I've sworn off translations. Tom - 25/01/2011 05:50:33 PM 1650 Views
?OT: reading French literature Sinead - 19/02/2011 04:09:36 PM 1672 Views
You're new here, aren't you? Legolas - 19/02/2011 04:50:50 PM 2243 Views
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