Books for intermediate French learners

2. Charlie et la Chocolaterie – Roald Dahl (B1-B2)

Quite disappointed by the Tim Burton movie and its over-the-top special effects, the book however holds a special place in my heart. The touching character of Charlie Bucket, the wonderful chocolates and the eccentric Mr Wonka helped me practice English a few years ago. Interesting to note that the story was originally inspired by Roald Dahl’s experience of chocolate companies (Cadbury and Rowntree) during his schooldays.

3. La grammaire est une chanson douce – Erik Orsenna (B1-B2)

“Grammar is a sweet song”..and a joyous fantasy. Jeanne, the narrator, travels a lot with her older brother, Thomas. Their parents are separated and each live on one side of the Atlantic. One day, their boat is wrecked and, only survivors, they miraculously run aground on an unknown island. Welcomed by Monsieur Henri, a musician, poet and charmer, they will discover a magical territory where words lead their life: they dress up, put on makeup, get married. It’s a walk in the city of words, full of humour and poetry, where the rules are enunciated with lightness. 

4. Vendredi ou la vie sauvage – Michel Tournier (B1-B2)

The action takes place on a desert island near Chile and begins in 1759 on a ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Robinson Crusoe sets out on a commercial trip to Chile on board La Virginie. As the ship approaches the Chilean coast, a thunderstorm breaks out: Virginia crashes against the rocks of the island Speranza. With Tenn, a dog, Robinson is the only survivor. After long years of painful solitude, a new character (an Indian who escaped a purification ritual) enters the scene. Robinson will call him Friday (the day they met). This is the beginning of a stormy adventure.

5. Vous Revoir – Marc Levy (B1-B2)

In 2000, Marc Levy published his first novel Et si c’était vrai … Then comes Ou es-tu ? (2001), Sept jours  pour une éternité … (2003), La Prochaine Fois (2004) and one year later, Vous revoir (See you again) (2005). You could start with Et si c’était vrai as the characters are identical but this novel has more humour and unexpected twists. 

Marc Levy has been the most widely read contemporary French author in the world for more than eighteen years.

6. Contes de Maupassant – Guy de Maupaussant (bilingual edition, B2)

From an unexpected invitation in La Parure to a misunderstanding in La Ficelle, Maupassant turns everyday situations into memorable stories, often with an ironic twist. His short fiction explores ambition, appearances and human relationships in nineteenth-century France.

A French–English bilingual edition lets you enjoy one complete story at a time, with the translation to help you through unfamiliar vocabulary.

9. La vie est un roman – Guillaume Musso (B2)

The story begins with Carrie’s disappearance. The apartment door and windows were closed, the cameras in this old New York building didn’t show any intrusion. The police investigation turned up nothing. At the same time, across the Atlantic, a heartbroken writer takes refuge in a dilapidated house..

11. Petit Pays – Gaël Faye (B2)

In 1992, ten-year-old Gabriel lived in Burundi with his French father, an entrepreneur, his Rwandan mother and his little sister, Ana, in a comfortable expatriate neighborhood. Gabriel had a sweet childhood that will fall apart at the same time as this “small country” of Africa brutally battered by history. Gabriel sees with concern his parents separate, then the civil war looms, followed by the Rwandan tragedy. Violence invades it and everything changes. The author wrote this novel to shout out to the universe that they had happiness before becoming refugees, immigrants and migrants. Gaël Faye evokes the torments and questions of a child caught in a story that makes him grow up faster than expected.

12. La Mare au diable – Georges Sand (bilingual edition, B2)

Set in the French countryside, this gentle story follows Germain, a widowed farmer, whose journey with a young shepherdess takes an unexpected turn. George Sand brings rural life to life through tender characters and evocative descriptions of nature. Best suited to confident intermediate readers, the novel offers a chance to explore more literary French.

A French–English bilingual edition can help you enjoy the story while working through unfamiliar vocabulary.

13. Le Tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours – Jules Verne (bilingual edition, B2+)

Can Phileas Fogg travel around the world in just eighty days? Accompanied by his French servant Passepartout, he sets off on a journey filled with obstacles, surprises and a race against time. The geographical vocabulary and detailed descriptions make this a more demanding choice, best suited to confident intermediate readers.

A bilingual edition provides useful support while you enjoy this classic adventure.

14. Chanson douce – Leïla Slimani (B2+)

When Miriam, a mother of two young children, decides despite her husband’s reluctance to take back her activity in a law firm, the couple starts to search for a nanny. After a severe casting, they hire Louise, who quickly wins the affection of the children and gradually occupies a central place in the household. However, little by little the trap of mutual dependence will close again, until the tragedy.