6 New French Books You Should Read
It’s French literary award season, and here are the books the juries recommend adding to your “To Read” list — plus one notable book they missed. The Prix Goncourt, France’s most prestigious literary prize, awards a cheque for €10, which winners typically frame and proudly display in their workspace, often at greater cost than the prize itself. The Prix Renaudot, in contrast, offers no cash prize. However, both, along with the Prix Médicis, the Femina Prize, and the Académie Française Grand Prix du Roman, significantly boost book sales.
To stay ahead with your well-read friends, consider these French titles next time you visit your local bookstore.
La Maison Vide (The Empty House)
Laurent Mauvignier’s La Maison Vide won the Prix Goncourt after a single jury vote. This 750-page novel offers a meticulous and innovative exploration of the author’s family history, beginning with his great-great-grandmother, told through heirlooms and mementoes. The book, which carries an intriguing thriller-like atmosphere, previously won the Prix littéraire Le Monde and the Prix des libraires de Nancy-Le Point, and was also a nominee for the Femina prize.
“It needed just one round of voting by the jury of the Prix Goncourt to award the prestigious literary prize to Laurent Mauvignier for La Maison Vide — a forensic, fourth wall-breaking, fictional tour of his family’s past, starting with his great-great-grandmother, through the medium of heirlooms and mementoes.”
The success of these literary awards plays a major role in increasing the visibility and sales of French literature worldwide.
Author's summary: French literary prizes, from the Goncourt to the Femina, spotlight remarkable books like La Maison Vide, which deeply explore family history and captivate readers globally.