French Books* You Can Read in One Sitting That Might Change Your Life

No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre. 60 pgs. Play.

"The play begins with three characters who find themselves waiting in a mysterious room. It is a depiction of the afterlife in which three deceased characters are punished by being locked into a room together for eternity."

Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan. 154 pgs. Fiction.

"Set against the translucent beauty of France in summer, Bonjour Tristesse is a bittersweet tale narrated by Cecile, a seventeen-year-old girl on the brink of womanhood, whose meddling in her father's love life leads to tragic consequences."

In the Café of Lost Youth by Patrick Modiano. 160 pgs. Fiction.

"Four narrators---a student from a café, a private detective hired by an aggrieved husband, the heroine herself and one of her lovers---construct a portrait of Jacqueline Delanque, otherwise known as Louki."

Between Meals: An Appetite for Paris by A. J. Liebling. 185 pgs. Nonfiction.

"New Yorker staff writer A.J. Liebling recalls his Parisian apprenticeship in the fine art of eating in this charming memoir."

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. 189 pgs. Fiction.

"A poignant look at the disillusionment and angst of the post-World War I generation, the novel introduces two of Hemingway's most unforgettable characters: Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley. The story follows the flamboyant Brett and the hapless Jake as they journey from the wild nightlife of 1920s Paris to the brutal bullfighting rings of Spain with a motley group of expatriates."

The Lover by Marguerite Dumas. 117 pgs. Fiction.

"The Lover is a story told by Hélène Lagonelle, a French woman looking back on her life in Indochina (now Vietnam) and, in particular, the romance she had with a wealthy Chinese man in 1929 when she was just 15."

The Waitress Was New by Dominique Fabre. 117 pgs. Fiction. 

"Pierre is a veteran bartender in a café in the outskirts of Paris. He observes his customers as they come and go – the young man who drinks beer as he reads Primo Levi, the fellow who from time to time strips down and plunges into the nearby Seine, the few regulars who eat and drink there on credit – sizing them up with great accuracy and empathy. Pierre doesn’t look outside more than necessary; he prefers to let the world come to him. Soon, however, the café must close its doors, and Pierre finds himself at a loss."

Madeleine by Ludwig Bemelmans. 32 pgs. Picture book.

"Madeline is one of the best-loved characters in children's literature. Set in picturesque Paris, this tale of a brave little girl's trip to the hospital was a Caldecott Honor Book in 1940."

750 Years in Paris by Vincent Mahé. 120 pgs. Nonfiction picture book.

"750 Years focuses on one single building in France as it sees its way through the upheavals of history."

Forever Paris: 25 Walks in the Footsteps of the City's Most Illustrious Figures. 108 pgs. Nonfiction.

"Take a stroll through Édith Piaf's Belleville, dine at Napoléon's favorite restaurant, and explore the late-night haunts of Ernest Hemingway, Josephine Baker, and Pablo Picasso. From the author of the best-selling City Walks: Paris deck, this lively collection of walking adventures follows in the footsteps of more than 25 of the city's iconic former residents."

Ooh-la-la! Max in Love by Maira Kalman. 32 pgs. Picture book.

"Max the dog-poet is back, this time in Paris and falling in love, in Maira Kalman's delightful picture book."

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. 123 pgs. Fiction.

"The narrator is a downed pilot in the Sahara Desert, frantically trying to repair his wrecked plane. His efforts are interrupted one day by the apparition of a little, well, prince, who asks him to draw a sheep."

And, okay, no, you cannot read it in one sitting, but it's definitely a potential life-changer...Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. 1,463 pages. Fiction.

*Reminder that we are using a very, very loose definition of French books here. Better word: French-ish. See Why I Love French-ish Books post for more information.

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.