Tailored Texts Project Madame Bovary

Welcome! I read this book at university and am currently re-reading it with the ambition of creating an original language version that can be easily accessed by intermediate French learners. I hope you're enjoying this incredible text!

It takes my breath away at times, at other times it makes my head spin!

Making better progress, words like ébouli ( dazzeled) galons ( tassels) bas ( stockings) sapins (fir trees) recrier, s'ecrier ( to exclaim) indisposer ( to annoy) se disposer ( to use, to have) keep coming and coming.... I often think of the quote from Shakespeare: Act II Scene II Hamlet:
“Lord Polonius: What do you read, my lord?
Hamlet: Words, words, words. "

"Words, words, words" indeed - but all of them "les mots justes"!

Glad to hear you are making progress and enjoying your reading,

Sam :-)

Starting the longest chapter ( part 2 ch 8).
I know more names of trees ( peupliers, trembles, if), medical terms (sang, lancette, saigner, ) carriages ( diligence, calèche, boc) the body ( menton, coudre, taille, narines, pommettes, ventre) and horses ( étalons, juments, poulains, crinière, licou, botte de paille, écurie) ..than ever before!

Emotions are running high in chapters 8-9-10. We're doing a lot of ( trembler, grelotter, frissonner, ratatiner) quiiver, shiver and tremble - ( bégayer, marmotter, balbutier) stammer, mutter and babble - (chatouiller, passer les bras de sa taille, s'essouffler, crier, defaillir) tickle, embrace, become breathless, squeal and faint. Emma is on an emotional rollercoaster!

Part 2 chapter 12: Comparison about making songs on a cracked cauldron that make bears dance while we want to touch the stars. What does Flaubert want to say?

English: I am clueless .. Dutch expression: Er is geen chocola van te maken! French...je ne comprends pas!

Emma is too hot to handle, Rudolphe has taken the first "calèche" ( carriage) out of town! Dumped anno 1857 via a basket of apricots and a "dear Emma" letter. No SMS text messages in those days, this is the next best thing. I'm reading faster than the speed of light! Vocabulary is increasing. New personal best: 11 pages!

The biggest reason people fail at creating and sticking to new habits is that they don’t keep doing it. I have been reading this book in french for 57 days, average 3-4 hrs a day. It takes time but I have reached a point where I can read french newspapers with ease. If you can read Flaubert, everything else is easy! 72 pages yet to read...

What an inspiration you are being to us! Congratulations on making such great progress, and for reaping the rewards of this wonderful book.

Léon is older and wiser and has learned a few new tricks in the 'big city"! Bourgeois Emma is falling for his words of seduction, hook, line and sinker. Soon Léon will win her mind, body and soul. Emma, Emma...when will you ever learn...?"

"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow" In the case of Emma and her lover Léon......"à jeudi!" Cleverly arranging weekly piano lessons ( Charles is still clueless), Emma is off to Rouen to keep her rendez-vous with her lover. Just 47 pages to go and a lot of drama is expected to come...!

Champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget, Emma is drowning in debt. She's desperate. Who can she turn to, who will help her from sliding downwards....36 pages to read!

Emma is sitting next to me tonight. Sees me underline each french word. She whispers in my ear: "..it never really gets any easier. It's just that you are going to get so much better. ( ..so don't give up)..32 pages to read.

Déja vu! "Emma retrouvait dans l'adultère toutes les platitudes du mariage". ( Emma finds the same dullness/boredom in adultery as in marraige) "...comment pouvoir s'en débarasser?" ( ..how do I get rid of him?) Reading is slow, work as exhausted most of my congenitive abilities!(brain-based skills I need to carry out the task of reading in french)

Advienne que pourra!" Come what my come!Exausting all possible means of gettin 8000 francs to pay her debt, Emma returns to Yonville. Just 28 more pages and I feel her end is near. Emma is accablée (overcome with emotions), hébétée ( stupified). "Quoi faire?"( What can I do?)

J'avais tout tenté" Emma has tried everything to no avail. She visits the town lawyer but he wants more from Emma..."Je suis à plaindre, mais pas à vendre!" ( I am to be pitied, but not for sale!). Ex lover Rodolphe is her only chance. Perhaps..."il est disposé à lui secourir!"( ..is willing to help her). Final countdown begins...19 pages to read!

I will do my best to finish the last 4 chapters today. It will take a marathon read to do it. I have the book, a pen, a ruler, cup of tea. All I need now is the focus...