6 New French Books You Should Read
The French literary award season is in full swing, and these titles are the ones the juries insist belong on your ever-expanding reading list — along with one overlooked gem that deserves your attention.
The Power of French Literary Prizes
The Prix Goncourt, France’s most renowned literary award, grants a symbolic cheque of €10. Many winners choose to frame it — often spending more on the frame than the prize itself — and display it with pride in their home or office.
The Prix Renaudot, by contrast, carries no monetary value. Nevertheless, both honors, as well as the Prix Médicis, the Femina Prize, and the Académie Française Grand Prix du Roman, dramatically increase book sales and the authors’ literary prestige.
La Maison Vide (The Empty House)
It took only a single jury vote for the Prix Goncourt to crown Laurent Mauvignier’s La Maison Vide as this year’s winner. The 750-page novel offers a meticulous, inventive exploration of the author’s family history — beginning with his great-great-grandmother — presented through heirlooms, letters, and memories, in a narrative that at times resembles a psychological thriller.
Before claiming the Goncourt, this novel had already earned the Prix littéraire Le Monde and the Prix des libraires de Nancy-Le Point, and it was also nominated for the Femina Prize.
“To keep up with your well-read friends, here are some French books you should pick up next time you visit your friendly neighbourhood librairie.”
Author’s Summary
This article highlights the excitement of France’s book award season, showcasing Mauvignier’s celebrated novel and the cultural impact of literary prizes on readers and authors alike.