6 New French Books You Should Read
It’s French literary award season, and here are the books recommended by the juries to add to your growing “To Read” list — plus one overlooked gem you shouldn’t miss.
French Literary Prizes Overview
The Prix Goncourt, France’s most prestigious literary award, grants a cheque of €10. Winners often frame this symbolic prize, sometimes spending more on the frame than the prize itself, proudly displaying it in their office or writing space. The Prix Renaudot offers no cash award but, along with the Prix Médicis, the Femina Prize, and the Académie Française Grand Prix du Roman, these prizes significantly boost book sales.
Recommended Books to Pick Up
La Maison Vide (The Empty House)
Laurent Mauvignier won the Prix Goncourt for La Maison Vide after a single jury vote. This 750-page novel is a detailed, fourth-wall-breaking exploration of his family’s past, tracing back to his great-great-grandmother through heirlooms and memories. The book, with a thriller-like atmosphere, previously won the Prix littéraire Le Monde and the Prix des libraires de Nancy-Le Point, and was nominated 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.”
Next time you visit your local bookstore, consider these acclaimed French titles to stay ahead in literary conversations.
Author’s summary: Seasonal French literary awards spotlight compelling novels that shape France’s reading culture and significantly influence book sales worldwide.