The Wit of Madame Fifi (French Edition) [Paperback]

Sue Fenton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 1998

Groan Appetit! Chuckle with a French accent while reading this first- ever one-of-a-kind, humorous and clever potpourri of 566 puns which playfully warps French words and pronunciation. In Madame Fifi's world of cross-cultural craziness and frivolity as flaky as a croissant, French has been twisted or sauteed with English and the results are silly to sublime, avant-garde to French fried. The puns are sprinkled with cultural confetti from both sides of the Atlantic. They are asked in English and if you get stumped, the answers with notes appear on the back of each page. Many of the puns are based on America's knowledge of things, people, and places that are French. The book is illustrated, and it's wacky, classy, and a lot of fun.

This is a must for anyone who appreciates the French language or culture. It will amuse the general public, delight French scholars and linguists, and tease and tickle the minds of anyone who is studying or has studied French. For beginners to advanced students, it is an excellent tool for learning new words, brushing up on vocabulary, or polishing French cultural savvy. It would be a great gift for your favorite francophile.

Every French teacher's bookcase should have this book in it. Daily lessons and units can be spiced with Madame Fifi's wit. The pun is an effective mnemonic device, making words and information more easy to remember. Humor enhances learning.

Oscar, Madame Fifi's pet snail (on the cover) who likes to ride on his skateboard around Paris (Oscar, go!) and who majored in medieval literature and philosophy at the Sorbonne, says the book is charming and very entertaining. He highly recommends it.

Madame Fifi (who lives in Paris, takes sculpting classes at the Louvre, and loves to buy shoes and flowers, windsurf, and browse in antique shops) sends her regards and hopes that you'll enjoy reading her book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

... the first book for an English speaking readership to playfully warp French words and pronunciations...a volume of delight for anyone with an interest in the French language and culture...highly recommended for personal and academic French language collections and reading lists." -- The Book Watch, Midwest Book Review

From the Author

This is the first time a book of puns has been devoted to the French language and culture. Writing it has truly been a labor of love, as I have been a scholar of French and have admired and been fascinated by it for most of my life. The book is a tribute to this beautiful language. It is also a panorama of French history, geography, art, music, literature, expressions, vocabulary, society and so much more. It will surely tease and tickle your mind as you learn a little more about France.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Madame Fifi Publications (November 12, 1998)
• Language: French
• ISBN-10: 0966741803
• ISBN-13: 978-0966741803
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,084,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give this Madame a green light!, April 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wit of Madame Fifi (French Edition) (Paperback)

In another galaxy far, far away, I remember schmoozing through a first year Latin class. Learning was not necessary. After all, this class was taught by a small, unusually hued, near retirement teacher nicknamed the "Blue Goose" because of her skin tone. What counted was that she liked you. That guaranteed a "B" and any work bumped that grade up. It seemed like a great system until she quit teaching languages at the end of the year, leaving all of us in a lurch. What were we to do? Try to struggle through second year Latin? Et tu, Brute? No, most of us decided it was better to switch than fight the learning curve. Spanish was the only alternative. Que passe?

What, you may wonder, does this have to do with a book called "The Wit and Wisdom of Madame Fifi." Good question. The answer is quite simple: if we had been fortunate enough to have learning materials like those in this little gem of a book, Latin would be a live language today. Sue Fenton - a.k.a. Madame Fifi - has made language fun!

How? Humor, wit, word plays and general language use from which students of all ages, backgrounds, and interest levels can benefit. Unlike the typical language book, this is one you'll want to peruse just for the fun of it. In the process, you will learn. (And, if you want to be really cool, check out the CD "Oh La La - Sing Your Way to French" that Fenton has created with C.C. Couch and Teddy Irwin. It's hipper than a lot of music you hear on the radio and a total quality production.)

So, if you or someone you know wants to get into the French language in a definitely fun-filled way, check out Madame Fifi.

But, one word of caution: With the humor and clever twists you'll find on every page, you just mais oui oui all the way home!

C. Scutt, reviewer

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is a great book for all people interested in France., July 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wit of Madame Fifi (French Edition) (Paperback)

I am a student of Mademoiselle Fenton at Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet in Nashville. She is an wonderful teacher and actually knows what she is talking about. Her knowledge of French trivia is amazing not only to her students, but most certainly to all her readers. Anyone can read this book. Read it today!