Christine Choppy's favorite books

Some books... (in progress)


** in FRENCH **
  • Victor Hugo (in english) (1802 Besancon-1885 Paris) poetry and fiction, member of Académie Francaise, considered as one of the most important romantic french writers, several books were put into movies, operas (Les miserables, Notre-Dame de Paris...). He was politically engaged for human rights
  • Jules Verne (in english) (1828 Nantes-1905 Amiens) with museums dedicated to him in both cities, wrote trips, adventure and fiction : Le Tour du monde en 80 jours, ... other site
  • Alexandra David Neel (1868 Saint Mandé-1969 Dignes), available in several languages, books about the extraordinary journeys she did in India, Tibet etc. (other site)
  • Joseph Kessel (1898-1979), member of Académie Francaise, "Le lion"
  • Jacques Prévert (1900-1977) Poet (his wonderful poems were put in music by Joseph Kosma, sung by Les Frères Jacques and others), and film writer.
  • Marguerite Yourcenar (1903-1987), member of Académie Francaise, another site , book titles: "L'Oeuvre au noir" ; "Les mémoires d'Hadrien" ; ...
  • Henri Vincenot (1912-1985 Dijon). short bio. Les yeux en face des trous (1959) ou idem. La Billebaude (1978) : "la Vie quotidienne des paysans bourguignons au temps de Lamartine".
    Livre de sa fille, Claudine Vincenot: "Le maitre du bonheur, mon père, Henri Vincenot", Livre de Poche.
  • Jacqueline de Romilly (english) (1913 Chartres), member of Académie Francaise, audio "Sur les chemins de Sainte-Victoire"
    Je ne me souviens pas des autres moments de joie, qui furent légion : ils étaient par essence abolition de toute pensée et fusion dans la beauté du monde. Les moments où l'on oublie tout sont aussi voués à l'oubli. Ils étaient aussi moments de paix totale.
  • Romain Gary/Emile Ajar (1914 Vilnius-1980 Paris), "La vie devant soi", "La promesse de l'aube"
  • Han Suyin (english) (née en 1917 à Xinyang), Médecin et écrivain, de père chinois et de mère belge, Rosalie Tchou, née à Pékin, prend le nom de Han Suyin en entrant en littérature, et vit aujourd`hui à Lausanne. Elle interrompt ses études de médecine à Pékin pour travailler comme sage-femme, les poursuit à Bruxelles et les interrompt de nouveau pour rentrer en Chine, lors de l`attaque japonaise. Elle les terminera à Londres et s`installera à Hong Kong et en Malaisie. Infirmière en 1942, elle écrit son premier ouvrage: "Destination Chung-king". Puis, entre autres, "Multiple Splendeur", "La montagne est jeune", "Amour d`hiver".
  • T. Trilby , romancière à succès de 1920 à 1960 "Lulu le petit roi des forains"
  • Tim Guénard
    * "Plus fort que la haine" : A travers son autobiographie, il nous dévoile l'itinéraire d'un enfant perdu, et retrouvé. Ses mots ont la force de coups de poing, et l'écriture lapidaire délivre un message rempli d'espoir en la capacité d'amour et de pardon de tout homme, meme du plus blessé. extrait
    * "Tagueurs d'espérance", * "Quand le murmure devient cri"
  • Christian Jacq (mystery books in Egypt, in pharaons time)

    ** in SPANISH ** (translated in french and other languages)
  • Pablo Neruda ( Neruda and Fundacion Neruda ) "J'avoue que j'ai vécu" and many others
  • Isabel Allende, niece of the former Chile president, leaves in the USA, novels about life in Chile in old times and others

    ** IRISH WRITERS (in ENGLISH) **
  • Mary Ryan Solicitor; author of Whispers in the Wind (a movie after the book); Into the West; Hope (enthralling epic tale of the American gold rush, based on the true-life story of the great-uncle of this bestselling Irish author); Mask of the Night; Shadows from the Fire; Glenallen, Summer's End; The Promise.

    ** in ENGLISH **
  • Ray Bradbury (born 1920) A medecine for melancholy 1959
  • John Fowles (1926-2005) The ebony tower
  • J.R.R. Tolkien (french) (1892-1973 (also Tolkien (english), and Tolkien ) "Bilbo the hobbit" (full of poetry, a delight in my opinion !)
  • Noah Gordon (born 1931) Book titles: The Bodega, The Last Jew (Le dernier juif); Matters of Choice (other title: Choices) ; Shaman (Le chaman); The physician (Le Médecin D'Ispahan) ; The Jerusalem diamond ; The death committee ; The Rabbi ; Sam and Other Animal Stories has been published in Germany Tiergeschichten
  • Pearl Buck 1892- 1973 (also, Nobel, in french, and this) Nobel prize 1938, leaved 40 years in China (american parents).
    Titles: "The good earth", "East wind: west wind", "The Exile"
  • John Le Carré (born 1931)
  • Robert van Gulik (1910-1967) was a Dutch diplomat and an autority on Chinese history and culture. He drew his plots from the whole body of Chinese literature, especially from popular detective novels that first appeared in the 17th century. Some titles: The Chinese Gold Murders; The Chinese Bell Murders; The Chinese Maze Murders; The Lacquer Screen; The Willow Pattern; The Haunted Monastery; The Chinese Lake Murders; The Chinese Nail Murders; etc
  • Roald Dahl, and a site for kids (translated in french and other languages, but Roald Dahl is easy to read in english)
    * Autobiographies : Boy and Tales of Childhood; Boy and Going Solo; Going Solo; The Great Mouse Plot; My Year
    * Children's Books: The BFG; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator; Matilda; The Witches; and others ...

    ** PHOTOS **
  • Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004)
  • Robert Capa
  • Robert Doisneau
  • Steve McCurry