I'm going to start pretty close to home by just sailing across La Manche to France. I enjoy the style of French novels and French cinema and had quite a few different titles from which I could choose. I've gone for a range of themes so hopefully there will be something here to inspire you to try reading a book from France:
Grey Souls by Philippe Claudel
Read my original book review
Philippe Claudel is one of my absolute favourite authors and I have chosen Grey Souls as my first suggested French book. The novel is set in a small town during World War One and has superbly evocative writing.
A Very Long Engagement by Sebastien Japrisot
Read my original book review.
I saw and loved the Audrey Tautou film version of A Very Long Engagement years before I even realised that the book existed. Like Grey Souls, this is also a World War One novel, but much lighter in tone and with an uplifting ending.
The Panda Theory By Pascal Garnier
If you enjoy French noir as much as I do then The Panda Theory is absolutely the book for you. It is set in a small Breton village and examines how the locals are entranced and affected when a stranger named Gabriel comes to town. The Panda Theory was one of my Top Ten Books of 2015
George's Grand Tour by Caroline Vermalle
This is a fun and endearing look at aging and male friendship. George decides he wants a final adventure - to complete the 2008 Tour De France route and persuades his friend, Charles, to join him. However, both are rather too elderly for such a cycle journey and so decide that setting out in a Renault Scenic is their safest bet.
The Other One by Colette
A French classic for my final choice. Colette's short story is set in a time when affluent women often had no function other than to be pretty accessories to their husbands. Fanny's life is 'so dull' without husband Farou until she discovers his affair with his secretary.
I hope you have enjoyed discovering these French novels. Next month I am planning to 'travel' to Australia and remind myself of some books I have read from there.
You can join in my WorldReads Challenge at any time! Simply read 1 or more books from a different country each month, write a post about it/them, grab the button below and add it to your post. Don't forget to pop back here and Comment your link so I can visit!
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My first Philippe Claudel book was the haunting Brodeck's Report - reviewed here
ReplyDeleteThe Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain is a beautiful quirky romance where a bookseller tries to find the owner of a lost handbag - review here
ReplyDeleteI had to come check these out as well. ;)
ReplyDeleteGlad you did!
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