Reading the French Classics in 2019

[@alexas2390]

OMG! I was in your class a couple of semesters ago & it’s been one of my favorite courses I’ve ever taken!!!! What a happy coincidence that i happened to save this video after searching French literature books a few days ago without immediately recognizing you. I hope you are well, and I’m so happy to have found your channel :)

[@bookwhimsy]

You are the first student to find me! I love it ❤️

[@alexas2390]

BookWhimsy I read Sartre’s play No Exit for that assignment in class, and i had so much fun doing that, as well as listening to the rest of the class’s picks. French lit is amazing!

[@bookwhimsy]

You actually made me add Sartre to my reading list even though he hasn't been my favorite 😅. I think it's in No Exit that he uses the line "L'enfer c'est les autres" right ? It's one ofy favorite quotes ever.

[@Maryjane022]

Your so pretty 😍 anyway, thanks for showing all those lovely books 💗📚

[@angelaluz405]

I absolutely ADORE Phantom of the Opera. It is probably my favorite book of all time. I am in love with it. I also love Candide. It's so funny and so insightful. What a mind Voltaire had! I have read both of the Dumas books a long time ago and really liked them too. I plan to reread Count of Monte Cristo again soon. I would say DEFINITELY go with Phantom! It is a treat!

[@bookwhimsy]

That great to hear, The Phantom of the Opera is now moving up on my list 😃

[@corajohnston22]

This is an exciting group of books. I’ve read several of those and have several of them on my TBR. I’d love to see an update of this video

[@bookwhimsy]

I am due for an update! 😊 Thank you for watching ❤️

[@skyhigh7773]

I'm learning freanch i can't understand much but right now i have a LOT time so i think is a good way to improve😍

[@AlwaysDoing]

I read and loved No Exit in high school, and loved The Phantom of the Opera when I read it a few years ago! I like how much more detailed it is than the musical (well, of course) and the look we get into the Phantom's past and psyche. You have a great list here - best of luck!

[@judokoga2145]

What about Balzac ?. What Zola did was very close to Balzac series.

[@bookwhimsy]

Between the two, I've always preferred Zola but I should probably give Balzac another chance 😁

[@judokoga2145]

@@bookwhimsy I like Zola better but for me it's only because he's a bit easier to read.

[@bookwhimsy]

@@judokoga2145 Yes, he is!

[@browngirlreading]

Definitely read The Stranger. I would like to read the Count and the Three Musketeers one day. Have you read Les Misérables? That’s a really good one. Need to re-read it, it’s been a while.

[@jessicagentry6379]

What college offers French Literature? I would love to study French Literature.

[@RashmikaLikesBooks]

The Stranger is delightful. It's got a hardness and melancholy to it and if you like polarizing/heavily flawed protagonists, you'll love it. It's kind of tonally similar to Notes from the underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. No Exit by Jean Paul Sartre is also gloriously cynical. I love it.

[@bookwhimsy]

I have a feeling that I am going to love The Stranger. You describe it beautifully!

[@eileenpreston8054]

You HAVE TO READ SUITE FRANCAISE fabulous!!!

[@shirleycarrillo23]

Hello Dr. Cardonna! 😃 C’est Shirley. Je ne sais pas si vous me souvenez ? J’étais dans votre classe de l’histoire française at Cal State LA. (Quelques semestres derniers) J’aime tellement votre classe. J’ai lu le fantôme de l’opéra.

[@bookwhimsy]

I ended up reading the book because of you! I hope you are doing well. That was a great class for me and you all were the reason for it ❤️

[@browngirlreading]

Have been dying to read all of the Rougin-Macquart series in order. Have read a few of them but want to read them in order to get a feel of what he was trying to say about French culture. The Perfect Nanny hard pass. Good luck with this reading challenge! Great idea!

[@bookwhimsy]

Yes, reading them in order would be a great project! I've been trying to find pretty editions and eventually also collect French editions. 😁

[@browngirlreading]

BookWhimsy I think I’m going to read them in French. So I’ll probably go with Folio editions. I’m not sure for the English editions

[@marilike]

I would put Marcel Proust & Balzac too

[@marnisenicoleart]

Scrolling through your videos and we seem to have a lot of books in common.

[@marnisenicoleart]

I’m gathering your a professor of French history right? Have you read my wish list by gregoire delacourt? It was the first French translated work I’d ever read and lovely.

[@bookwhimsy]

Yay, that makes me happy. I do teach French history but I have to admit there's quite a bit of French literature that I haven't read but I'm starting to catch up a little 😁

[@marnisenicoleart]

BookWhimsy have you read my wish list by gregoire delacourt? Not so much a French classic but a great piece of literature. I highly recommend.

[@bookwhimsy]

@@marnisenicoleart I had not heard on My Wish List but thanks for the recommendation!

[@jessicagentry6379]

Have you ever been to Paris France?

[@bookwhimsy]

I have! Paris is fantastic. Colleges that offer a French major should offer French Literature. It might depend where you live but there are also good online programs.

[@jessicagentry6379]

@@bookwhimsy ty. I will check into that. I have always wanted to have studied French Literature.

[@sunriselotus]

why is les miserables and the phantom of the opera not on the list?