Ranking of best-selling books: academicians in step

Hard, hard… It is no longer enough to write good books and have a good reputation to appear on our list. Thus academicians or (and) former Prix Goncourt published in January, whose sales figures are more than modest. 3,000 copies for The Ardent Trio by Patrick Grainville, French academician and Goncourt 1976; 1,000 for the essay on Russian literature by his Quai Conti colleague Dominique Fernandez, Goncourt 1982; 3,000 for A short treatise on racism in America of the Immortal Dany Laferrière; 7,500 for The Old Calendar of a Love the man in green Andreï Makine (1995 winner); 3,500 for The Swimmer of Bizerte the president of the Goncourt academy Didier Decoin (winner 1977); 6,000 for the successology essay by Lydie Salvayre (2014 winner)… Well, there are counterexamples such as Pierre Lemaitre, Daniel Pennac, JMG Le Clézio (21st), Erik Orsenna (23rd)… the conclusion is harsh. What to do ? Convert to romance?

17. The Granddaughter

At 78, the German writer and ex-professor of public law, author of the world bestseller The Reader, continues to delight its French readers. Notably with this moving story of a bookseller who learns after the death of his wife, a defector from the GDR in 1965, that she had left a baby on the other side of the Wall. Going in search of her, he discovers a neo-Nazi and conspiratorial family, from which he tries to extract “his” adopted granddaughter.

1. Unlimited Knowledge

By Mohamed Boclet

He is, he says, become vice-champion of the world of speed reading in 2021, and offers on YouTube many videos of aids to understanding and development. So many “tips” that this former engineer delivers in his new book, which aims to “strengthen your concentration, increase your knowledge and boost your intellectual faculties.” Readers believe in it and propel Mohamed Boclet to the top step of the podium.

Germany

Zwischen Welten

Von Julie Zeh and Simon Urban

This great social novel, co-written by the shocking duo formed by the 48-year-old former lawyer, new star of German literature, and the author of Plan of, takes first place in the list of Spiegel. It is about the reunion of two friends with diametrically different paths, who multiply the jousts about the climate, racism or gendered language.