Talking Books with French Friends
Chat about what you're reading, swap recommendations and find your way around a French bookshop or library.
The French read a lot and love talking about books: the rentrée littéraire each autumn brings hundreds of new novels, and prizes like the Goncourt make headlines. Independent bookshops (librairies) are everywhere because a law fixes book prices, so Amazon can't undercut them; staff picks are marked with a little handwritten card, the « coup de cœur ». Municipal libraries (médiathèques) are free or very cheap to join with proof of address, and paperbacks are called « livres de poche ».
- 1
Tu lis quelque chose en ce moment ?
Are you reading anything at the moment?
- 2
Je viens de finir un super roman.
I've just finished a really good novel.
- 3
Ça parle de quoi ?
What's it about?
- 4
C'est l'histoire d'une famille à Marseille.
It's the story of a family in Marseille.
- 5
C'est de qui ?
Who's it by?
- 6
Je n'arrive pas à le lâcher.
I can't put it down.
- 7
Je l'ai lu d'une traite.
I read it in one go.
- 8
Je préfère lire en anglais.
I prefer reading in English.
- 9
Je le lis en français, mais doucement.
I'm reading it in French, but slowly.
- 10
Tu peux me conseiller un livre ?
Can you recommend a book?
- 11
C'est un coup de cœur du libraire.
It's a bookseller's pick.
- 12
Il est sorti en poche ?
Is it out in paperback?
- 13
Je voudrais m'inscrire à la médiathèque.
I'd like to join the library.
- 14
Je peux emprunter combien de livres ?
How many books can I borrow?
- 15
Je dois les rendre dans trois semaines.
I have to bring them back in three weeks.
- 16
Je lis sur ma liseuse.
I read on my e-reader.
- 17
Je suis pas un grand lecteur.
I'm not a big reader.
Tip: Casual speech: leave out the first half of the negation.
- 18
Je préfère les BD.
I prefer comics.
- 19
Tu me le prêtes quand t'as fini ?
Can I borrow it when you're done?
- 20
Je te le passe la semaine prochaine.
I'll lend it to you next week.