Published on January 8, 2025 at 4:22 p.m.
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At the end of 2024, the “New York Times Book Review” updated its list of the 100 best Books of the 21st century. Among this XXL classification are two French works which may be in your library.
The opinion of the “New York Times” has fallen. The American media took advantage of the transition to 2025 to list the hundred best books of the 21st century. The opportunity to extend your list of books to read once in your life. To produce this ranking, the “New York Times Book Review” asked around a hundred big names in literature as well as a few personalities – from Stephen King to Sarah Jessica Parker – to reveal their ten favorite novels published since January 1, 2000.
Also read >>> Annie Ernaux: “Writing helps me live”
Two sacred French books
Result ? One hundred books considered the most important of this century. Among them, we do not shy away from our pleasure of finding two books signed by French authors. Indeed, “Persepolis” (2000), by Marjane Satrapi, ranks 48th. As for “Les Années” (2008) by Annie Ernaux, the novel rose to 37th place.
Regarding first place in this prestigious ranking, it goes to “L’amie prodigieuse” by the Italian Elena Ferrante. This title of “best book of the 21st century” had already been awarded to it by the media last July. Published in 2011, the autobiographically inspired work enjoyed great success when it was republished to mark the release of its sequel, “Le Nouveau nom” (2012). Building on this enthusiasm, the literary tetralogy has the right to its serial adaptation on HBO in 2018. A second season, based on the second volume, has been ordered.
Other books by the novelist who remained anonymous were retained, like “Days of My Abandonment” (2005) and “The Lost Child” (2015), which appear in 92nd and 80th place respectively.
Here are the 20 of 100 best books of the 21st century:
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