It’s crazy that our list of essays and documents of the week reflects the many concerns of French society. It’s all there: disease, diets, conspiracy, protest, calls for insurrection, ecology, biodiversity, feminicides, sexual abuse, the politics of extremes, metaphysical (and astrophysical) questions. , Ukraine and Putin’s follies, the royal settling of scores, and even the troubles of French football. Everything except pensions. This absence aside, it’s hard to think that you won’t find something to suit you in this French hostel.
The fact remains that if you want, precisely, to air your mind and sail towards other horizons, you can “fall back” on the Top 30 fictions: three Goncourt academicians are waiting for you there, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, Pierre Assouline and Tahar Ben Jelloun . Like an invitation to dine at Drouant. Enjoy your food !
3. The bride wore yellow boots, by Katherine Pancol
The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles had brought him luck with 1.7 million copies sold since 2006. So, go for the yellow of his bride’s boots for his 20th novel. Thirty characters, 750 pages, all against the backdrop of a family saga and a Bordeaux wine estate rich in secrets and twists. The reader should get for his 24.90 euros.
9. The World’s Largest Menu. Natural stories on our plates, by Bill Francois
Biophysicist, naturalist, writer and humorist: a cocktail that can give the best as Bill François proved in 2019 with his tasty Sardine Eloquence (Fayard), which opened the doors to the underwater world. Rebelote with this analysis of the dishes and the surprising origins of the foods that compose them: cheeses, fruits, mushrooms, salads… The art of marveling at biodiversity.
Italy
The Malnata, from Beatrice Salvioni
It’s the new Italian phenomenon. Extremely rare, the first novel by this 28-year-old author (sold in 28 countries) was published simultaneously throughout Europe (in France by Albin Michel). Among the Transalpins, this story of a friendship between two young girls confronted with injustice and conformism in fascist Italy sits in first place on the charts of the Corriere della Sera.