Popular French Titles, Fall 2006

A.M.O.R.
Lesage, Mireille , © 2005 | Fre FIC L
This story of two antique rings follows history from the fall of Rome through World War I; unhappy events that accompany these cursed rings bring bad luck to their owners. Will the unfortunate cycle finally be broken? Fiction.
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Alain-Fournier
Massenet, Violaine , © 2005 | Fre B Alain-Fournier
A captivating description of the brief but fascinating life of a talented author, Alain-Fournier, who died at age 27 in November 1940.
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Asile de fous
Jauffret, Regis , © 2005 | Fre FIC J
A novel, characterized by its black humor, portrays “the family” in general as an “asylum for the insane.” Winner of the Prix Femina 2005.
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La fabuleuse histoire de l'icone
Velmans, Tania , © 2005 | Fre 246.5305 V
The author, an internationally renowned historian, undertakes a search for icons. She blends imagination and reality in a mission that takes her to ancient Constantinople, the Orient, and the Occident.
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Fuir
Toussaint, Jean-Philippe , © 2005 | Fre FIC T
In China, the protagonist is given a cell phone which robs him of his freedom. This existential novel was awarded the Prix Medicis 2005.
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Gaspard de Besse: 1757-1781 Brigand de France, heros de Provence
Siccardi, Jean , © 2005 | Fre FIC S
Gaspard de Besse is the dashing hero of this novel that blends history and legend in presenting a French Robin Hood who tried to help the poor and was executed at the age of 24.
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Houellebecq non autorise
Demonpion, Denis , © 2005 | Fre B Houellebecq D
The enormously successful but controversial writer Houellebecq, champion of postmodern French literature, racist? fascist? is examined by a journalist of the magazine “Le Point.”
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Jeremie! Jeremie!
Fernandez, Dominique , © 2005 | Fre FIC F
A Parisian student and his entourage set out to find out where Alexandre Dumas’ grandmother came from. The result is a captivating novel, set in Haiti, with interesting characters.
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L'amour dans le sang
Valandrey, Charlotte , © 2005 | Fre B Valandrey
A young talented theater and movie actress describes her life and her heart replacement.
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Le destin de Iouri Voronine
Jelinek, Henriette , © 2005 | Fre FIC J
Iouri Voronine, a poor Russian immigrant, finds himself in the midst of a rich Hollywood crowd thanks to his son’s financial success. His life is empty and he returns to the religion of his youth. Winner of the “Grand Prix du roman de l’Academie Francaise 2005.”
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Le mystere de la tour Eiffel
Laine, Pascal , © 2005 | Fre FIC L
Novel woven around Gustave Eiffel and his fascinating contemporaries, and how a dream of building a daring and crazy tower became a reality.
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Le rire de l'ogre
Peju, Pierre , © 2005 | Fre FIC P
In the early 1960s in Bavaria, a French adolescent is staying with a German correspondent. This is a romantic war novel with two protagonists, one French the other German, in the aftermath of World War II; written by a winner of the Prix Inter 2003, whose books have been translated into 14 languages.
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Le roman de Figaro
Vitoux, Frederic , © 2005 | Fre FIC V
Eighteenth century France and Figaro, the characters created by Beaumarchais, are recreated in this novel by a member of the Academie francaise.
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Le roman de Vienne
Des Cars, Jean , © 2005 | Fre 943.613D
An enthusiastic author depicts Vienna through the ages: its history, including the Turkish occupation, art, museums, music and more; has interesting illustrations.
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Les boulets rouges de la Commune
Coulonges, Georges , © 2005 | Fre FIC C
An historical novel that vividly depicts the hunger, cold and suffering of Parisians under Prussian occupation in 1870.

Les conspirateurs
Shan, Sa , © 2005 | Fre FIC S
A handsome American, a beautiful and cruel Chinese young woman, and an ambitious and cynical Frenchman are the protagonists of this spy novel. This trio moves from Paris to Peking and to Washington without knowing who is who or who loves whom.
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Les demoiselles de Provence
Carolis, Patrick de , © 2005 | Fre FIC C
The story of a noble young couple is set in Provence in the 13th century. They have four daughters; each young woman becomes queen of a kingdom in this historical novel written by a journalist and TV personality.
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Les dollars des sables
Pancrazi, Jean-Noel , © 2006 | Fre FIC P
A homosexual affair, depicted in this novel, has a protagonist who pays a young man for love on an island in the Caribbean.
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Les terres de la demi-lune
Savoie, Helene , © 2005 | Fre FIC S
Nearly two dozen poetic short stories, myths and fantasies of the Pacific Islands, especially New Caledonia where the author, a poet, grew up.
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La ligne de flottaison
Hatzfeld, Jean , © 2005 | Fre FIC H
Novel about a famous reporter, by an award-winning writer, whose assignments take him from Chechnya to Paris. The protagonist is torn between his devotion for his career and his love for a young Hungarian woman
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Lord James
Hermary-Vieille, Catherine , © 2006 | Fre FIC H
An historical novel depicts the third husband of Marie Stuart, Queen of Scots, their tumultuous love as well as their passion for their religion.
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Magnus
Germain, Sylvie , © 2005 | Fre FIC G
The story of a young boy and his teddy bear, whose life is turned upside down by the Nazis in Germany. This novel won the Prix Goncourt des Lyceens 2005.
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Mes mauvaises pensees
Bouraoui, Nina , © 2005 | Fre FIC B
The confessions of a woman in analysis reveal her feelings and sexual desires to her analyst. This novel was awarded the Prix Renaudot 2005.
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La nuit interdite
Serfati, Thierry , © 2006 | Fre FIC S
A psychological thriller about memory and sleep, which haunt the protagonist, who was a witness of his wife and child’s assassinations.
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Nuits noires
Aubert, Brigitte , © 2005 | Fre FIC A
A collection of mystery short stories by a winner of Le Grand Prix de la Literature Policiere in 1997.
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La papesse Jeanne
Bichet, Yves , © 2005 | Fre FIC B
Novel based on the myth that in the year 855 a courageous, beautiful young woman briefly became Pope. This places the event at the time when Islam begins to conquer the Occident.
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La possibilite d'une ile
Houellebecq, Michel , © 2005 | Fre FIC H
Daniel I is a troubled protagonist who has many clones in this science fiction novel that was awarded the Prix Interallie 2005.
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Raymond Devos: funambule des mots
Dufour, Jean , © 2005 | Fre B Devos D
A biography of a very funny and talented man, Raymond Devos, by his secretary and agent.
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Relations inquietantes
Arnothy, Christine , © 2005 | Fre FIC A
A young woman who is partially paralyzed undergoes psychotherapy. Her husband is often absent and unreliable and the therapist takes his patient to Paris to appear on reality TV. The host of the show falls in love with her in this romance-filled novel.
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Sarah Bernhardt: biographie
Gidel, Henry , © 2006 | Fre B Bernhardt G
This biography of the legendary French actress of the 19th and 20th centuries unravels truth from fiction and presents an usual description of the great Sarah Bernhardt.
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Trois jours chez ma mere
Weyergans, Francois , © 2005 | Fre FIC W
On his 50th birthday, the hero of this novel tries to change his life completely, only to discover that he is tied to his wife, the woman he loves; winner of the Prix Goncourt 2005.
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La vie sauve
Violet, Lydie , © 2005 | Fre B Violet
Lydie Violet was diagnosed at age 40 with a rare form of a seemingly incurable cancer. Her valiant fight is told by Marie Desplechin and the book was awarded the “Prix Medicis de l’essai” 2005
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This list was compiled by Sylvia S. Goldberg, Foreign Language Specialist. Donnell World Languages