6 new French books you should read

6 New French Books You Should Read

It is French literary award season, and here are the books that juries recommend adding to your “To Read” list — plus one overlooked gem that deserves attention.

The Prix Goncourt, France’s most prestigious literary prize, awards winners with a cheque for €10. This modest sum is often framed, sometimes at a greater cost than the prize itself, and displayed proudly in writers' personal spaces.

The Prix Renaudot offers no monetary prize but, along with the Prix Médicis, the Femina Prize, and the Académie Française Grand Prix du Roman, these awards significantly boost book sales.

To stay ahead in literary circles, here are some French books to pick up on your next visit to the bookstore.

La Maison Vide (The Empty House)

Laurent Mauvignier’s La Maison Vide won the Prix Goncourt after just one jury vote. This 750-page novel delivers a meticulous, fourth wall-breaking exploration of his family’s history, beginning with his great-great-grandmother, told through heirlooms and keepsakes. It carries a suspenseful tone reminiscent of a thriller.

The book has also won the Prix littéraire Le Monde and the Prix des libraires de Nancy-Le Point, and was nominated for the Femina prize.

“The prize for winning the Prix Goncourt, France’s most prestigious literary award, is a cheque for €10, which winners apparently tend to have framed — perhaps at greater expense than the actual prize money — and displayed proudly on the wall of their office or writing nook.”
“The Prix Renaudot, meanwhile, comes with no cash award at all. But both prizes – along with the Prix Médicis, the Femina Prize, and the Académie Française Grand Prix du Roman — all boost book sales enormously.”

Author’s summary: French literary awards may offer modest cash prizes but greatly amplify the visibility and sales of extraordinary books like Laurent Mauvignier’s gripping family saga, La Maison Vide.

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The Local The Local — 2025-11-06

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