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Post by janerowena on Jul 24, 2008 17:01:42 GMT 1
It's a brilliant poem though, isn't it? I think it's a woman thing. A child wouldn't notice all those little details, I don't think. It's desperately sad! I feel miserable now! She's invisible to him. I want to know what he would do if she threw the ashtray at him, or hid his raincoat, or blew away his smoke rings.
I got an A for my french language, literature and speaking. <smugsmiley>
We didn't have A*s then. I feel cheated.
I quite liked Anouilh, and Sartre, but I can't say I've chosen to read them since I left school!
I did, however, read Les Trois Mousquetaires and La Collier de la Reine of my own free will the following holiday as a bit of light reading. My parents were shocked! Also 'Ondine', but I couldn't make head or tail of that one. I've read other light stuff since, but I think that's partly because if you read something that's a bit deep you do need to discuss it with others, as you would have done at school.
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Post by anneliesje on Jul 24, 2008 19:52:43 GMT 1
definitely womanly and beautiful! It rings a bell so I think we read it at school too. We definitely read "Barbara" by Jacques Prévert, and I remember we analysed endlessly songs from Jean Ferrat and George Moustaki, which are very very boring for 14 year olds. We would have preferred Michel Fugain or France Gall or so. I really can't remember what we read the last 3 years of my secondary school and I had 5 hours of french a week <veryyikes> I probably didn't pay a lot of attention. I can't even remember the teacher of these last years! HELP! I only remember in last year we had a young teacher, with beautiful ginger hair and at the exam (it was oral) I did my thing and at the end she asked (in french of course) how my other exams had been. So I started to tell her about the disaster of Maths. That I knew all the answers but needed to go to the loo so badly I couldn't concentrate anymore and I only could go when the supervisors changed (every 2 hours we had different supervisors when doing written exams, you couldn't go to the loo and when they changed, one went with you to the toilet to check whether you didn't have your notes anywhere). I had to wait over an hour and couldn't think anymore. At the end of that morning I got an extra 20 minutes to finish my exam. I told this all to my french teacher and she was sympathetic. I passed, both on French and on Maths
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Post by Juliet on Jul 24, 2008 21:00:18 GMT 1
Very sad and very lovely poem, Flumps - & I managed to understand it without the translation, which is surprising, as my French is very rusty. Afterwards I looked at the translation & I agree, it's awful - no rhythm & no soul. I didn't think La Symphonie Pastorale was one of Gide's thinly-disguised autobiographical ones - I know some of his other books were, but I thought that one was just to do with his feelings about faith & hypocrisy. It's a while since I've read about it, but I did do it for my degree as well, and I don't remember that coming up at all. Not that my memory is anything that can be relied on
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Post by Hil's old account on Jul 24, 2008 21:27:50 GMT 1
I only did O level French, 48 years ago! So I don't remember much, except Maupassant, which I enjoyed. Nowadays my favourite French books are the Titeuf series, borrowed from Toto, my grandson I was reading one whilst being in charge of an exhibition, and got the giggles, and had to explain why to this very straight-laced looking French lady, and she immediately understood my merriment! Titeuf can be very rude, and is written for 10 year olds. That shows you how sophisticated I am! Anneliesje will know about him!
Mind you, I am in the midst of reading Laurence Durrell's "Avignon Quintet" which is difficult but interesting , rewarding and adult.
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Post by Hil's old account on Jul 24, 2008 21:36:23 GMT 1
"Déjeuner du matin" , quelle tristesse! J'étais très emue et j'avais la gorge serrée.
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Post by Flumps on Jul 24, 2008 21:37:17 GMT 1
Maybe I'm thinking of a different one Juliet - I thought the priest in La SP was representative of some older lover or something but that could just have been my slightly pervy teacher... Barbara's another of my fave Prevert poems - that's also on the link I posted above... the translation is dire tho - at some points whoever did it obviously couldn't be bothered to find a dictionary, as they've just written "something something something". Outrageous!
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Post by Juliet on Jul 24, 2008 22:51:39 GMT 1
I'll have to look up my Gide notes when I unpack them, after we eventually move! I'll have a browse of the Prevert link sometime Hil, what's happened to your avatar? - or is it just me not being able to see it for some reason?
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Post by Juliet on Jul 24, 2008 22:55:20 GMT 1
Just realised I meant to say - Anneliesje, talking about your French oral exam reminded me - one of my friends who was also in my French lit class got chatting (in French) to the woman who did our orals, discovered she had a holiday cottage in France and managed to get himself (& some other friends) invited to stay there for part of the summer after we finished our As. Talk about jammy!
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Post by anneliesje on Jul 25, 2008 23:19:27 GMT 1
I only chatted myself into babysitting my french teacher's kids I'm afraid (when I was 14/15) , she lived quite close to me. No french holiday homes I'm afraid. I don't know the character you mention, Hiltop. I have to look it up. When I was a kid there was something on the french telly which I could watch. I believe it was bécasinne, but I have to check with my mum. I had an alarm with those characters. It must have been when I was 3 or 4. I haven't read the english translation of the petit déjeuner poem, but Hil is right, it just strangles you. You feel her, you see her watching him, and all with very simple words. The true beauty of language. XXX The next book written by Philip Claudel I will read in French, it is very poetic and descriptive language. In French it must be really nice. We have the DVDs of Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources. These movies were quite a hit in Belgium in the 80s. Take care and night night
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Post by Flumps on Jul 26, 2008 23:48:34 GMT 1
OMG - just finished reading "The End of Mr Y". It's been on my waiting-to-be-read pile for ages. Picked it up this morning and even though it totally freaked me out I couldn't put it down. (Extra-speacially freaky as it's about a cursed book that people become obsessed with even though they know they'll die after reading it.) Now it's nearly midnight but I don't want to go to bed because I'll definitely have nightmares!!!
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Post by Hil's old account on Jul 27, 2008 15:31:07 GMT 1
Hi, Flumpet, how are you today? What was the night like?
Thanks for warning us about the book!
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Post by Flumps on Jul 27, 2008 16:55:45 GMT 1
Well, I dreamed that a big hairy, smelly beast came to get me in the middle of the night... then I realised I'd just been woken by Mr. Flump snoring! ;D Seriously, I had to read a few chapters of some nice trashy chick lit before I went to bye-byes... It's a great book but seriously creepy! (and with an unnecessary amount of shagging in toilets IMO!! ) Thanks for your concern Hil <hug> F.x
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Post by janerowena on Aug 3, 2008 14:17:39 GMT 1
I'm finding going through Dear Friend and Gardener very slow work. It's not that it'sboring, it's just that it really is a 'dipping into' book and I keep on reading others around it.
MIL lent me The Savage Garden and, unlike Rhoda, I thought it was very good. It brought the old symbolic methods of using statuary to tell a story into play.
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Post by anneliesje on Aug 3, 2008 16:00:34 GMT 1
Very slow indeed.
I too am reading other books at the same time, this means I now carry 2 books in my handbag.
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Post by beej on Aug 3, 2008 18:56:03 GMT 1
It is a dipping in book indeed which is rather nice. I find the writing delightful & CL is quite funny. Have you read the bit about Geoff Hamilton? Tee hee!
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Post by Juliet on Aug 3, 2008 22:59:18 GMT 1
It suits me - I tend to get too caught up in novels & read them half the night if I'm stupid enough to take them upstairs with me (I always intend to leave them downstairs, honest!) - so it's nice to have a book which breaks properly at the end of a section instead of leading you on to read the next bit!
I find some of CL's letters a bit irritating tbh, Beejay - I don't like people who think "I don't like being told what to do" is a valid argument (in this case against organic gardening) - it's like people who think they can win an argument by resorting to swearing, it's meaningless. He was (surely) intelligent enough both to realise this and to discuss the issue properly! I like BC's letters better: they show more consideration (in both senses of the word).
I haven't got to the bit you mention though.
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Post by Amazing on Aug 3, 2008 23:05:55 GMT 1
I finished the one about the woman whose OH left her. Wasn't impressed, thought she was going to do something wonderful and different with her life. Anyway got back today and lying on my desk was My dear Friends, all the way from Minnisota in USA. I will take it to work and see if I can get started on it tomorrow night.
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Post by anneliesje on Aug 4, 2008 22:34:22 GMT 1
I think it is a good read on the tram, but not on the train. I only know 2 persons that are mentioned : C.L and Fergus. I enjoy more Beth's letters but I can't say why.
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Post by joany on Aug 5, 2008 17:45:08 GMT 1
Jro - I've read that too and enjoyed it, tho I felt the ending a little rushed. Did you guess who the 'last' statue was? It seemed so obvious to me but it may have been a lucky guess! This is my First Post on this thread as my reading is very sporadic. I've just 'splurged' all my June salary on 'Dear Friend & Gardener' for some holiday reading. Don't worry, it wasn't a special signed first edition or anything, just that my salary reflected the unpaid leave I'd had that month Will I need to take a plant encyclopedia (sp !) with me - my plant knowledge is rather limited ;D Jb
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Post by anneliesje on Aug 5, 2008 20:31:35 GMT 1
Yes! I don't bother to look up the plants, I just try to get the atmosphere.
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Post by janerowena on Aug 5, 2008 22:23:53 GMT 1
Yes, I guessed the last statue as soon as it was mentioned! Then I dismissed it because I thought it was too obvious. Unfortunately I read and watch too many whodunnits and so always manage to wreck anyone who is watching with me's viewing by yelling out the murderer. I think one day I may find myself murdered.
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Post by Juliet on Sept 3, 2008 23:17:48 GMT 1
Just thought I'd bring this thread back up - I haven't quite finished Dear Friend And Gardener as other things have got in the way, but it's about six weeks since I suggested we talk about it in a month Has everyone else finished it? Did you enjoy it?
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Post by janerowena on Sept 4, 2008 8:49:10 GMT 1
I was feeling guilty about it only this morning because I haven't finished it! I seem to be reading it in between library/other books, when I run out. I am enjoying it, it's just that because it is such a good 'dipping into' book, that is what I am doing.
She has an amazing amount of energy for her age, doesn't she?
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Post by beej on Sept 4, 2008 17:12:27 GMT 1
I also haven't touched it for a while, but you are right JRo, it is perfect for dipping so I am not worried about forgetting the plot technicalities!
I am still trying to read some Proust but am finding it difficult. In fact I am almost convinced that life is too short to read Proust!
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Post by Juliet on Sept 4, 2008 19:02:44 GMT 1
That's roughly the conclusion I came to about Proust when I did him for my degree!
I've been dipping into Dear Friend ... as well - in between catching up with the large pile of magazines (we're members of RSPB, NT, EH, etc etc as well as having GW subscription) which didn't get read last year because I was too busy coping with Estate Agents! It's not the sort of book you want to just read right through - I suppose it's not natural to read a lot of letters like that - but it's really interesting.
I think they both have an amazing amount of energy & enthusiasm, for lots of things, not just gardening.
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Post by Juliet on Oct 3, 2008 23:03:40 GMT 1
Still not finished Dear Friend ... - I didn't take it on holiday & I've been busy since - also read a couple of library books while R had them out. I'm nearly there though!
While we were on holiday we happened to go in a second hand bookshop (as you do) and I noticed Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman, so I got that & have read it too - thought it was very good, much better written than the Philippa Gregory. R is reading it now - he thinks so too (he gave up on Earthly Joys after about 2 chapters).
What are we going to read next? Do you want me to post the suggestion list again or do we want some new ideas (or both)?
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Post by Nooj on Oct 4, 2008 13:21:03 GMT 1
I'm currently reading Nicolson, Adam - Perch Hill , a new life. About sarah Raven and him setting up at Perch Hill.
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Post by janerowena on Oct 4, 2008 13:46:27 GMT 1
I read that too, Nooj. When I first met him I only knew his Dad and didn't realise who he was, as I didn't read the paper he wrote for. It's a good book, but it does make you look at Sarah Raven in a new light! I read the book soon after he wrote it because my mother gave it to me. It's a lovely book, and there's another about his island that is rather nice.
Still haven't finished the other one either. It's nice to have a 'dippy' book, but I feel guilty for having suggested it!
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Post by Juliet on Oct 4, 2008 17:39:00 GMT 1
Don't feel guilty, J-Ro - it's an interesting book & I'm enjoying reading it. Just not as easy to zip through as a novel!
The Adam Nicolson sounds interesting too - shall we add it to the list? Or is it better to try to find a book none of us have read?
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Post by Nooj on Oct 5, 2008 12:59:04 GMT 1
It's Ok , but not much about Sarah or gardens. More about his own feelings about the countryside I bet he's sorry now, because they were struggling financially and he describes Sarah's plants as 20 pound notes on stalks! I expect he's sorry now that she's the one earning a fortune!
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