July 19, 2011
Reading Duets
I have read parts of novels to my husband. I have read books in informal book clubs and in very formal classroom settings. With my youngest brother and my son, I have read Saint Exupery's Little Prince twice and two decades apart.
But reading "Les Malheurs de Sophie" by the Comtesse de Segur with my daughter is an experience on its own. That experience I had once before, reading the same book with my paternal cousin, who is a year younger than me, and it was the identical book. Indeed, I don't think it would have come to mind to read it as a duet with my daughter, had I not done it three decades ago!
Comtesse de Segur is to French children what Enid Blyton is to English or Louisa May Alcott to Americans. It is classic children's literature, miles apart from the more hip and current literature that is written for children today.
Comtesse de Segur's novels are written like plays, with conversations and dialogue. In this particular case, and because my daughter is a novice at reading she was designated to read the words of the heroine, Sophie, who is a naughty girl, always up to trouble. I read the rest of the book, the other dialogues and the description and narrative.
The author is a Countess of the XIXth century and the circumstances are often "aristocratic", with children playing with dainty toys and getting dressed for occasions and followed by maids and servants. The language is at times pretentious and often obsolete. It is charming nevertheless. Yet, reading it as an adult didn't give me new impressions. I sensed the preciousness of the setting even as a child. I just rediscovered it as an adult.
My cousin and I were probably nine or ten when we read the same book. So we divided the reading equally. I will always remember reading that book on our drive to the Roman ruins of Baalbek, in the Bekaa valley of Lebanon.
Three decades later, I was reading the book, with my daugter, on the train ride to Zermatt. Times and worlds apart, but the same classic!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
abercrombie outlet
ReplyDeletelongchamp le pliage
cheap oakley sunglasses
burberry sale
jordan retro 13
ladies cartier watches
jordan concords
louis vuitton outlet stores
louis vuitton purses
michael kors outlet clearance
nike outlet
michael kors outlet clearance
coach outlet store online
toms wedges
louis vuitton purses
christian louboutin shoes
timberlands
adidas yeezy 350
ralph lauren outlet
gucci belts
ghd hair straighteners
longchamp outlet
toms shoes outlet
pandora charms
louis vuitton
coach outlet
ray ban sunglasses
burberry scarf
rolex watches
christian louboutin outlet
gucci outlet
louis vuitton handbags
michael kors outlet online
montblanc pens
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton outlet
louis vuitton outlet
cheap toms
christian louboutin sneakers
coach outlet
20168.5chenjinyan
20180529xiaoke
ReplyDeleteray ban sunglasses outlet
adidas outlet store
chrome hearts clothing
coach outlet online coach factory outlet
polo ralph lauren outlet
michael kors outlet clearance
cheap air jordans
gentle monster sunglasses
michael kors outlet clearance
michael kors outlet clearance