The idea to start a French book club, like all great ideas, started on a drunken summer night. I was chatting with a friend and lamenting my two previous failed attempts to start one. She sparked a ray of hope in me when, over the din of the party, she leaned in and said, “I have a friend who’d be interested.”
Thus, the French book club was born, and now more than half a year later, I can say with confidence that it’s a success. We’ve read four books so far, spanning genres (psychological thriller, coming-of-age, dystopian, social novel) and representing authors from around the Francophone world (Rwanda, Morocco, Belgium, France).
Here’s a look at the books we’ve read, along with a short summary of each one and whether I’d recommend it. I’ll also share what books we plan to read next at the end of this post.
Books Our French Book Club Has Read So Far
- Petit pays – Gaël Faye
- Chanson douce – Leïla Slimani
- Moi qui n’ai pas connu les hommes – Jacqueline Harpman
- L’Enfant de sable – Tahar Ben Jelloun
Petit pays – Gaël Faye
Summary
A young boy named Gabriel grows up in Burundi with a Rwandan mother and French father as ethnic tensions and the Rwandan genocide engulf the region. As violence spreads, Gabriel struggles with questions of identity and the shattering loss of childhood while standing at the edge of history.
What I thought
An emotionally evocative novel, I found myself completely immersed in the world of Gabriel. Faye did a great job of showing the slow loss of innocence experienced by Gabi.
⭐ Rating: 4.5
Would I recommend it? Yes
Best for: Beginners
Chanson douce – Leïla Slimani
Summary
When Myriam decides to return to work after having children, she and her husband look for “the perfect nanny” for their children. But as the couple and the nanny become more dependent on one another, jealousy, resentment, and suspicions mount, shattering the idyllic tableau.
What I thought
One of my favorite books thus far, this is a disturbing examination of the struggles faced by modern women (particularly regarding motherhood) and how social class can impact interpersonal relationships. It reads more like a character study than a traditional whodunit, which is worth knowing going in.
⭐ Rating: 4.25
Would I recommend it? Yes
Best for: Intermediate learners
Moi qui n’ai pas connu les hommes – Jacqueline Harpman
Summary
Deep underground, 39 women are held against their will in a bunker. Watched over night and day by guards, the women have no recollection of how they’ve ended up there or for how long. When a chance incident allows them to escape, they must learn to navigate a world that they neither remember nor understand.
What I thought
This book aged like fine wine. While I initially didn’t particularly enjoy it (in part I think due to the way it was marketed online), after discussing it within the group I found the story much more interesting and profound. I do think that you should read up a bit on Harpman’s life before reading this novel or make sure to buy a copy that has the afterword!
⭐ Rating: 3.75
Would I recommend it? Maybe
Best for: Intermediate learners
L’Enfant de sable – Tahar Ben Jelloun
Summary
A Moroccan father attempts to thwart the consequences of Islam’s inheritance laws regarding female offspring when his eighth daughter is born by declaring her a boy–Ahmed. Raised with the privileges of a man, Ahmed struggles to reconcile her burgeoning desires with the expectations placed on her by her father and broader society.
What I thought
While I found the premise quite interesting and the reflections of Ahmed engrossing, the peculiar narrative structure (a story within a story, multiple narrators, multiple endings), left me feeling quite frankly disoriented.
⭐ Rating: 2.5 stars
Would I recommend it? No
Best for: Advanced learners
I’ll continue to update my blog as we keep reading. I hope you’ve found this list helpful as you decide what to read in French.
What we’re reading next
- Shuni – Naomi Fontaine
- De purs hommes – Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
- Frère d’âme – David Diop