6 New French Books You Should Read
It’s the French literary award season, and here are the books juries have highlighted for your “To Read” list — plus one notable title they missed. The Prix Goncourt, France’s most prestigious literary award, offers a prize of just €10, which winners often frame and display proudly in their writing spaces, despite the modest sum.
The Prix Renaudot follows with no cash prize. However, both awards, alongside the Prix Médicis, the Femina Prize, and the Académie Française Grand Prix du Roman, significantly boost book sales. To stay updated with literary trends, consider these French titles when you next visit your local bookstore.
La Maison Vide (The Empty House)
The Prix Goncourt jury awarded Laurent Mauvignier’s La Maison Vide in just one voting round. This 750-page novel is a detailed, fourth wall-breaking exploration of his family history, starting with his great-great-grandmother. The story unfolds through heirlooms and mementoes, giving the book a thriller-like atmosphere.
The novel had previously won the Prix littéraire Le Monde and the Prix des libraires de Nancy-Le Point and was also nominated for the Femina Prize.
“Laurent Mauvignier’s novel offers a forensic and engaging look into family history through personal artifacts.”
This season’s award winners represent some of the finest contemporary French literature, elevating both the authors’ reputations and their works’ reach across readers worldwide.
Summary: The French literary awards season highlights several impactful books that combine rich storytelling with cultural heritage, making them essential additions to any reader’s collection.