6 New French Books You Should Read
It’s French literary award season, and here are the books recommended by juries for your growing “To Read” list, including one notable title they missed. The Prix Goncourt, France’s most prestigious literary award, grants a €10 cheque that winners often frame and proudly display in their writing space. The Prix Renaudot offers no cash prize, but both awards—along with the Prix Médicis, Femina Prize, and the Académie Française Grand Prix du Roman—significantly boost book sales.
La Maison Vide (The Empty House)
The Prix Goncourt jury awarded Laurent Mauvignier’s La Maison Vide after just one vote. This 750-page novel offers a meticulous, fourth wall-breaking exploration of the author’s family history, starting with his great-great-grandmother, through heirlooms and keepsakes. With a thriller-like tension, the book also won the Prix littéraire Le Monde and the Prix des libraires de Nancy-Le Point and was shortlisted for the Femina prize.
“The prize for winning the Prix Goncourt is a cheque for €10, which winners apparently tend to have framed and displayed proudly on the wall of their office or writing nook.”
Next time you visit your local bookstore, consider adding these awarded titles to your collection to stay ahead in your literary conversations.
Author's summary: French literary awards may offer modest prizes, but they greatly elevate book visibility, and Laurent Mauvignier’s latest novel is a standout winner you shouldn’t miss.