June 1, 2009 2:19 PM
Les Miserables Summer Reading Club - getting started
Today is the day we've slated to start Les Miserables for our summer reading club. I'm already started - which is good because I thought of some ideas which may be of help.
First of all, I had three years of French in high school and as I suddenly realized how intimidating and difficult Les Miz might appear to a reader without the slightest idea how to read - or hear inside your head - the French names and places.
So the first thing I want to do is remove that obstacle.
Here is a key to the pronunciation of the most important places and characters in the book. These are limited, because the show - as those of you who've seen it will learn - is only a small slice of the book.
You can read the English approximation of each name, but be sure to click on the arrows, which will take you to the audio files. There is something so appealing about listening to French! These you will definitely want to secure on your tongue and in your mind so you will be able to read them in context and without hesitation.
I started researching some French pronunciation resources, but they look too time-consuming for most of us. But here are some starters:
Imagiers.com - a comprehensive channel at YouTube offering hundreds of helps. Worth taking a little time to see what's available and if it might be of use to you.
About.com French Language
BBC Crash Course in French
I think what might be of most help is to watch a French movie or two with subtitles so you can hear the language for a couple hours and get the rhythm and beauty of it. Tripp and I are big fans of foreign movies and I've encouraged families not to shy away from movies with subtitles. Your children who read will be able to practice reading skills, and if you have non readers, you can cuddle them and read softly to them.
One of our family's favorite movies is Jean Cocteau's Beauty and The Beast
Other French films worth your time (I've linked to Amazon so you can read more about them, but all are available from Netflix):
Jean De Florette / Manon of the Spring
Okay, so I know some of you must be saying, "What are you doing to us, Barbara???"
I guess I'm making a little unit study of this for moms- and I do hope some of you have your teens along for the ride as well. My own kids have read Les Miz as young as 12. zi think immersing yourself in French - even if it's just watching and listening - will enrich your reading.
I so want this to be an enjoyable experience for you! If you've begun to read, you are probably becoming so fond of the Bishop. I've been filling my notebook with comments I want to share with you, but right now I want to let you know that as a reader, you are in control. That means that when you come up against one of Hugo's detours into French history or politics, you are free to read or to lightly skim over the parts that are not on the actual path of the story.
Here's the note I wrote the other night as I was reading - what I wanted to share with you:
You can find some more concise information about Victor Hugo and the novel here.Read intuitively.
Trust yourself as you read. If you get to a passage that isn't resonating with you (e.g., the one that begins on page 40), just skim until you are back to the story line. This is how to read classics - at least massive ones like this which are situated in another time and place - not forcing every word, but dwelling on the universal timeless themes and story. In the case of Les Miz, for those without a background or interest in French history, reading may resemble crossing a stream on stepping stones.
Ignore what is meaningless to you, as perhaps the deep philosophical discussion pp. 29-30. If you have the background and it is meaningful, great. If you don't, don't feel inadequate - this book represents another culture and was written almost 150 years ago. after all - just keep plunging ahead.
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Comments
Hi, Barbara,
I read Les Miserables last summer (okay, I still have a bit to go) partially because of your recommendation and because my son gave me a hard time about not having read something longer the Harry Potter series he devoured. Also, it was one of the rare movies I stayed awake during when my kiddos were younger.
It was a challenging read for me...partially because of my lack of French history knowledge and partially because Hugo seems to ramble at times. I wondered if he had an editor! :) However, I knew the issue was on my end, not his.
So, I bought the Sparks notes to help me keep things straight and persevered.
Maybe I'll reread it this summer with you, though this summer I won't have as many evenings by the pool since baby #5 is 7 months old now. (Last summer she was easier to manage being in utero.)
Hugs to you.
Posted by: Lexie | June 2, 2009 3:10 AM
Thank you for this Barbara! I am just now starting so this is just perfect for me to know now! (I had 2 years french in highschool, but remember about 6 weeks worth lol)
Kristy in Germany
Posted by: Kristy in Germany | June 2, 2009 4:09 AM
More French movies worth your time:
The Tall Blonde Man with One Black Shoe
Diabolique (the original)
Posted by: SneakySwede | June 2, 2009 4:56 AM
Ha! As I read along I realized that watching the Monteal Canadiens play all those years in Canada was paying off. It helped especially with the name pronunciation. (You'd never here more french names mentioned in such quick succession as during the game coverage.)
Talk about a cultural overlap!
Posted by: kelly | June 2, 2009 12:40 PM
Thank you for the challenge to read this book. I have been trying to "upgrade" my reading material, and this book is wonderful.
And I've been reading your blog for a couple of months now and just realized you're the author of "Small Beginnings," which I read when my boys were younger and have since passed on to another mom. You're the reason for the extra turkey basters and tongs that still seem to be hanging around my house. lol
Posted by: Susan | June 6, 2009 9:36 PM
