Québécois literature is a way of getting to know Quebec culture and society and, what’s more, learning the nuances of the province’s French.
Learn about books for reading Québécois French here. After all, “Memorizing words is not an option if you want to achieve excellence,” said Hungarian Balázs Csigi, who is fluent in seven languages. For him, learning a language goes far beyond simply memorizing expressions and applying them in everyday life.
The polyglot believes that the learning process is much easier if you truly immerse yourself in the country’s culture. “Instead of learning by repetition, you need to go beyond the surface and uncover the culture hidden behind each word and expression,” he said.
But how can we learn more about Québécois culture if we’re here in Brazil? One of the ways to break down geographical barriers and get closer to Quebec is to explore literature!
There’s nothing like a good book to get to grips with the characteristics and structure of Quebec society and, what’s more, to learn the nuances of the province’s French. Below we’ve put together some tips on books written by Québécois authors. Check them out!
5 books to read in Québécois French
We all know that reading is extremely important. It’s fundamental to our education and an interesting way to get to know other cultures without leaving the place. You can get to know the whole world just by immersing yourself in the pages of a good book.
Reading offers incredible benefits such as developing a critical sense, analyzing other points of view, seeing facts through someone else’s eyes and…learning a new language.
Reading expands the capacity for observation, interpretation, synthesis and comparison. That’s why reading Québécois authors is highly recommended, both to encourage reading and to help develop the nuances of French.
Below, we’ve listed five books to learn more about the country and its languages.
The story of PI (Yann Martel)
An Indian family in dire financial straits decides to move to Canada. The owners of a zoo in India make the journey by boat just to be able to transport the animals. In the middle of the journey, a shipwreck occurs and the protagonist, Pi, survives in a boat with the company of a tiger, a hyena, an orangutan and a zebra.
The adventure and fantasy novel, written by Yann Martel and inspired by the novel Max and the Felines by Moacyr Scliar, was first published in 2001. It was adapted into a movie in 2012.
Mauvaise Foi (Marie Laberge)
In this tragic and powerful crime novel, with hints of acid humor, author Marie Laberge explores the depths of the soul. In 1985, in the peaceful village of Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, a woman who was loved and respected by everyone was brutally murdered.
A person is accused, arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. Twenty-two years later, a relative of the alleged criminal seeks the help of French commissioner Patrice Durand and detective Vicky Barbeau with new information about the crime.
Paradise cliffs (Michel Tremblay)
In 1930, in downtown Montreal, Paradise was a club reserved for homosexuals – in the coded language of the time, “old boys”. Edward intends to make a triumphant debut on the night when he turns 18. However, it won’t be as himself, but in the guise of the Duchess of Langeais.
In the seventh volume of La Diaspora des Desrosiers, Michel Tremblay humorously recounts Edward’s internal conflict in discovering, developing and building his transvestite persona. The protagonist’s narrative arc, as well as being very rich and interesting, is essential for getting to know one of the most endearing characters in the famous series in depth.
La déesse des mouches à feu (Geneviève Petterson)
The year is 1996, the city Chicoutimi-Nord, the soundtrack is punk rock. Catherine is a young woman with Mia Wallace hair and red boots, going through the internal conflicts of adolescence. On his 16th birthday, he witnesses his parents separating after a violent argument.
However, the young woman remains inert to events, absorbed in her new experiences, her first crush and the typical rebelliousness of youth.
Chercher Sam (Sophie Bienvenue)
O Street dweller Mathieu scours the alleys of Montreal in search of his dog Sam. The intense search triggers a painful return to the past and the reasons that led him to live on the streets. A work that instigates the exercise of human perspective on the character of the protagonist, his condition and our judgments.
That’s it! Now you have five book tips in your hands. These are classic and contemporary works that will help you learn more about Quebec’s culture, geography, structure and social conflicts. What’s more, you’ll learn Québécois French.
Finally, a final tip: if books aren’t your thing, you can explore newspapers and current affairs. La Presse is the oldest French-language newspaper in North America and recently became a digital newspaper called La Presse+, completely free on tablets. To see Quebec society through original and sometimes acid and funny eyes, Urbania magazine needs no introduction as it is well known by Quebecers.
Here on the École Québec blog, you will find lots of information, tips and guidance on learning Québécois French and opportunities for study and work in Quebec. Explore our content!
