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Marthe48

(23,441 posts)
Mon May 19, 2025, 12:41 PM May 2025

Listening to a mystery novel set in Quebec

By Louise Penny. The Three Pines Series is based on the novels she wrote. I saw a comment that praised the narrator. It is hard for me to think that an actual person read this book. I thought from different inflections, accents on syllables, and timing it was an AI reading. There are French phrases scattered through the dialogue, that even to my Anglo ear, are badly pronounced. I finally realized today that the pronunciation reminds me of Ralph and Herbie, a skit that Cheech and Chong did. One of the dogs gets a whiff of Fifi, and says, "parley voo, hubba, hubba"

I don't want to complain too much. The books are free on You Tube. I can hear better than see

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Listening to a mystery novel set in Quebec (Original Post) Marthe48 May 2025 OP
I wonder if the pronunciation is Quebecois French? cbabe May 2025 #1
Coffee a let is an example Marthe48 May 2025 #5
Despite the poor narration, Louise Penny writes an excellent series. I hope you are enjoying the books. jls4561 May 2025 #2
Great series ballardgirl May 2025 #3
I've read all the books, never listened to an audiobook, but it's possible Ocelot II May 2025 #4

cbabe

(6,812 posts)
1. I wonder if the pronunciation is Quebecois French?
Mon May 19, 2025, 12:46 PM
May 2025

Louise Penny books are a treasure. Sorry the audio is not enjoyable for you.

LinguaLinx
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Québécois French vs Parisian French: What's the Difference?

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Marthe48

(23,441 posts)
5. Coffee a let is an example
Mon May 19, 2025, 01:26 PM
May 2025

The narrator keeps saying bow (rhymes with go) if someone bends, not bow (rhymes with cow) Not an example of the French phrases, just disconcerting.


I'm going out for an errand, but I'll check your link when I get back.

jls4561

(3,267 posts)
2. Despite the poor narration, Louise Penny writes an excellent series. I hope you are enjoying the books.
Mon May 19, 2025, 12:47 PM
May 2025

ballardgirl

(194 posts)
3. Great series
Mon May 19, 2025, 12:49 PM
May 2025

I've read all the books, mostly on my Kindle where I use BIG font. There was also a two season Three Pines series on Amazon Prime that was pretty good. I would probably not be able to follow the Quebec french on the audio version.

Ocelot II

(131,218 posts)
4. I've read all the books, never listened to an audiobook, but it's possible
Mon May 19, 2025, 12:59 PM
May 2025

that the French you are hearing is Quebecois, whose pronunciation can be considerably different from France's French, kind of like the differences between standard English and Scottish English. I'd be surprised if Louise Penny would approve of audiobook versions of her books in which the French was simply wrong.

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