You know of Hugo's Notre-Dame, Flaubert's Bovary, Camus's Stranger... I won't even bother recommending Proust because you're not going to prison, are you? (I love this joke from Murakami's '19Q4' where one protagonist says to the other that only inmates should plan on finishing Proust's 'Search'. I still have the majority of it to read ahead of me...maybe for when I'm very old?!).

Here are some fun, exciting, sad and smart French novels to enjoy. Not too long (with one exception), versatile and from the past three centuries, because one can't always read contemporaries, am I right? Winter time is the perfect time for new (old) literary discoveries. 

1) 'The Dairy of a Chambermaid' by Octave Mirbeau (1900). A novel about classism, antisemitism and the fate of many underprivileged women over a hundred years ago... about politics and ethics, about courage, opportunism and fear. Written in a witty, sarcastic and dark tone. There is a brilliant movie adaptation by Luis Bunuel and also a newer one with Bond girl Lea Sedoux. I love reading novels and then watching their adaptations! Do you do it too?

2) 'Candide' by Voltaire (1759). 18th century literature, especially when written by philosophers, sounds exhausting. This short novella is the opposite. It's incredibly ironic, smart and mean, a fast read that enlightens without being preachy. Voltaire is world famous for a reason and that can be found in 'Candide'.

3) 'Bonjour Tristesse' by Francoise Sagan (1954). A young girl is having a fun, relaxed summer but gets too involved into her aging dandy dad's affairs. The novel was considered immoral because it (rightly so) describes an "emancipated" 18-year old. An easy read that leaves a lasting impression.

4) 'Nana' by Emile Zola (1880). A party girl and prostitute with ambitions of becoming a star living in one of the most exhilarating and perverted time periods Paris has seen... Zola observes and judges, but how fun it is to follow him!

5) 'Lost Illusions' by Honore de Balzac (1843). The longest book from this list. But what a delight to read! Ideal to curl up on the couch and forget everything around you. Ambitious country boy Lucien tries to make it in Paris. A whole universe is presented of corrupt, vain, rich, poor, naive, loving people... It will make you want to read all of Balzac. I'm working on it myself.

Have you read any of these and did you like them?

Talk to you soon,

J.