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Best of French Literature

Members: 22 participating members (show all)

All members' list: [1] 2Sort: Score | Title | Author | Date
1
In Search of Lost Time
by Marcel Proust
3,485 members, 40 reviews
4.52 stars (4.52 stars)

Lists: alex68 (1), FranzK72 (1), thecoroner (1), eromsted (1), thorold (1), roby72 (1), advincent (2), Bookkat33 (4), Dilara86 (10)

Score: 32.44

2
The Stranger
by Albert Camus
31,953 members, 453 reviews
3.95 stars (3.95 stars)

Lists: Insatiable8 (1), advincent (1), leigonj (3), eromsted (4), ahef1963 (4), thorold (5), Bookkat33 (7), roby72 (7), FranzK72 (26), lewbs (28), thecoroner (33) — 1 more, alex68 (44)

Score: 31.02

3
Madame Bovary
by Gustave Flaubert
23,652 members, 349 reviews
3.75 stars (3.75 stars)

Lists: ahef1963 (2), roby72 (2), Dilara86 (2), alex68 (3), FranzK72 (3), advincent (3), Bookkat33 (3), thecoroner (4), lewbs (4), Kuiperdolin (8)

Thumbs down: Bretzky1

Score: 28.28

4
Candide
by Voltaire
18,558 members, 281 reviews
3.81 stars (3.81 stars)

Lists: Insatiable8 (2), roby72 (3), leigonj (4), ahef1963 (5), thecoroner (6), eromsted (7), alex68 (13), FranzK72 (16), lewbs (19), Bookkat33 (29)

Thumbs down: Kuiperdolin

Score: 22.67

5
The Plague
by Albert Camus
16,629 members, 222 reviews
3.95 stars (3.95 stars)

Lists: Insatiable8 (3), advincent (5), eromsted (6), alex68 (8), FranzK72 (8), Bookkat33 (8), roby72 (8), thorold (9), thecoroner (18)

Score: 22.04

6
Les Liaisons Dangereuses
by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
5,899 members, 81 reviews
4.1 stars (4.1 stars)

Lists: lewbs (2), thorold (3), alex68 (4), FranzK72 (5), thecoroner (5), roby72 (11), Kuiperdolin (12), Bookkat33 (14)

Score: 21

7
The Red and the Black
by Stendhal
8,528 members, 119 reviews
3.86 stars (3.86 stars)

Lists: lewbs (3), Insatiable8 (4), advincent (6), thorold (8), Bookkat33 (12), alex68 (14), FranzK72 (14), thecoroner (16), roby72 (25)

Score: 20.88

8
The Little Prince
by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
38,639 members, 696 reviews
4.23 stars (4.23 stars)

Lists: ahef1963 (1), Bookkat33 (1), cej1027 (1), alex68 (19), FranzK72 (21), lewbs (31), thecoroner (32), roby72 (33)

Score: 20.83

9
Les Misérables
by Victor Hugo
22,913 members, 309 reviews
4.27 stars (4.27 stars)

Lists: Bretzky1 (1), eromsted (2), Dilara86 (3), thecoroner (8), FranzK72 (9), alex68 (15), Kuiperdolin (16), roby72 (32)

Score: 20.81

10
Life: A User's Manual
by Georges Perec
3,450 members, 48 reviews
4.27 stars (4.27 stars)

Lists: advincent (4), Dilara86 (4), thorold (6), roby72 (6), Kuiperdolin (10), FranzK72 (22), thecoroner (26), alex68 (32)

Score: 18.32

11
The Flowers of Evil
by Charles Baudelaire
6,748 members, 72 reviews
4.2 stars (4.2 stars)

Lists: Kuiperdolin (1), roby72 (4), alex68 (5), FranzK72 (7), thecoroner (9), thorold (10), Bookkat33 (29)

Score: 18.25

12
The Charterhouse of Parma
by Stendhal
3,975 members, 70 reviews
3.76 stars (3.76 stars)

Lists: thorold (2), advincent (7), alex68 (10), thecoroner (10), Bookkat33 (16), FranzK72 (19), roby72 (20), lewbs (23)

Score: 17.96

13
Bouvard and Pécuchet
by Gustave Flaubert
1,566 members, 18 reviews
3.83 stars (3.83 stars)

Lists: Kuiperdolin (2), Bookkat33 (6), Dilara86 (6), FranzK72 (12), thecoroner (15), lewbs (22), alex68 (30), roby72 (46)

Score: 17.75

14
Exercises in Style
by Raymond Queneau
2,335 members, 49 reviews
3.91 stars (3.91 stars)

Lists: Bookkat33 (5), Dilara86 (5), thorold (7), lewbs (10), thecoroner (31), FranzK72 (35), alex68 (43), roby72 (49)

Score: 16.47

15
Nausea
by Jean-Paul Sartre
9,005 members, 71 reviews
3.76 stars (3.76 stars)

Lists: leigonj (1), alex68 (6), FranzK72 (6), thecoroner (7), roby72 (9), ahef1963 (10)

Score: 16.13

16
Germinal
by Émile Zola
4,802 members, 72 reviews
4.14 stars (4.14 stars)

Lists: boleslasditboby (1), eromsted (5), thorold (12), roby72 (18), alex68 (31), FranzK72 (32), thecoroner (38)

Score: 15.75

Explanations:

boleslasditboby (1): C'est le livre qui m'a donné le goût de la lecture

17
Journey to the Center of the Earth
by Jules Verne
12,590 members, 198 reviews
3.73 stars (3.73 stars)

Lists: Bookkat33 (2), cej1027 (2), ahef1963 (3), Bretzky1 (3), thecoroner (46), roby72 (67)

Score: 15.74

18
The Vatican Cellars
by André Gide
1,247 members, 19 reviews
3.65 stars (3.65 stars)

Lists: ahef1963 (8), alex68 (17), FranzK72 (17), roby72 (17), thecoroner (21), thorold (21), Bookkat33 (22), lewbs (24)

Score: 15.68

19
Cyrano de Bergerac
by Edmond Rostand
6,611 members, 73 reviews
4.13 stars (4.13 stars)

Lists: lewbs (1), Kuiperdolin (11), Bookkat33 (13), alex68 (25), thecoroner (25), roby72 (26), FranzK72 (28)

Score: 15.39

20
Three Tales
by Gustave Flaubert
2,096 members, 34 reviews
3.64 stars (3.64 stars)

Lists: advincent (8), Kuiperdolin (13), FranzK72 (18), Bookkat33 (18), lewbs (21), thecoroner (30), alex68 (36), roby72 (43)

Score: 15.14

21
Journey to the End of the Night
by Louis-Ferdinand Céline
5,504 members, 70 reviews
4.19 stars (4.19 stars)

Lists: alex68 (2), thecoroner (3), FranzK72 (4), roby72 (5), Insatiable8 (6)

Score: 14.46

22
Sentimental Education
by Gustave Flaubert
3,819 members, 54 reviews
3.83 stars (3.83 stars)

Lists: Kuiperdolin (4), advincent (9), Bookkat33 (15), thecoroner (20), roby72 (22), alex68 (23), FranzK72 (30)

Score: 14.44

23
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
by Victor Hugo
12,485 members, 162 reviews
3.93 stars (3.93 stars)

Lists: lewbs (5), Kuiperdolin (6), Bookkat33 (10), alex68 (21), thecoroner (29), FranzK72 (31), roby72 (39)

Score: 14.37

24
Against Nature
by Joris-Karl Huysmans
3,226 members, 70 reviews
3.76 stars (3.76 stars)

Lists: Kuiperdolin (3), Insatiable8 (5), alex68 (7), FranzK72 (11), thecoroner (17), roby72 (21)

Score: 14.21

25
Gargantua And Pantagruel
by François Rabelais
4,437 members, 44 reviews
3.75 stars (3.75 stars)

Lists: FranzK72 (2), thecoroner (2), alex68 (11), advincent (13), roby72 (13), Dilara86 (19)

Thumbs down: Kuiperdolin

Score: 13.05

26
Old Goriot
by Honoré de Balzac
5,443 members, 95 reviews
3.79 stars (3.79 stars)

Lists: FranzK72 (10), roby72 (10), thecoroner (11), thorold (11), advincent (12), alex68 (16)

Score: 13.04

27
Thérèse Raquin
by Émile Zola
2,844 members, 70 reviews
3.78 stars (3.78 stars)

Lists: Insatiable8 (7), thorold (13), roby72 (16), alex68 (18), thecoroner (19), FranzK72 (20)

Score: 12.32

28
Rhinoceros
by Eugène Ionesco
1,244 members, 15 reviews
3.9 stars (3.9 stars)

Lists: leigonj (5), advincent (11), alex68 (24), Bookkat33 (25), thecoroner (39), roby72 (65)

Score: 11.48

29
The Immoralist
by André Gide
3,072 members, 38 reviews
3.59 stars (3.59 stars)

Lists: Insatiable8 (9), ahef1963 (11), FranzK72 (23), alex68 (27), roby72 (31), thecoroner (50)

Score: 11.29

30
Eugénie Grandet
by Honoré de Balzac
3,033 members, 47 reviews
3.72 stars (3.72 stars)

Lists: advincent (14), thorold (14), roby72 (23), alex68 (28), FranzK72 (38), thecoroner (48)

Score: 10.83

31
Zazie in the Metro
by Raymond Queneau
1,534 members, 29 reviews
3.75 stars (3.75 stars)

Lists: thorold (4), Bookkat33 (21), FranzK72 (34), thecoroner (40), alex68 (56), roby72 (66)

Score: 10.81

32
Around the World in Eighty Days
by Jules Verne
14,752 members, 240 reviews
3.82 stars (3.82 stars)

Lists: Bretzky1 (4), ahef1963 (6), advincent (10), thecoroner (34), roby72 (68)

Score: 10.68

33
Manon Lescaut
by Abbé Prévost
1,819 members, 48 reviews
3.39 stars (3.39 stars)

Lists: advincent (15), Bookkat33 (19), roby72 (27), FranzK72 (39), alex68 (40), thecoroner (54)

Score: 10.37

34
Bel-Ami
by Guy de Maupassant
2,714 members, 53 reviews
3.86 stars (3.86 stars)

Lists: advincent (16), Bookkat33 (17), roby72 (38), FranzK72 (40), alex68 (46), thecoroner (51)

Score: 10.2

35
L'Assommoir
by Émile Zola
2,143 members, 38 reviews
4.1 stars (4.1 stars)

Lists: Insatiable8 (10), thecoroner (12), FranzK72 (15), roby72 (15), alex68 (47)

Score: 9.99

36
Memoirs of Hadrian
by Marguerite Yourcenar
4,869 members, 114 reviews
4.15 stars (4.15 stars)

Lists: roby72 (12), thecoroner (13), alex68 (20), advincent (20), FranzK72 (27)

Score: 9.79

37
The Misanthrope
by Molière
1,406 members, 18 reviews
3.7 stars (3.7 stars)

Lists: Insatiable8 (8), ahef1963 (9), Bookkat33 (24), thecoroner (27), roby72 (59)

Score: 9.69

38
The Devil in the Flesh
by Raymond Radiguet
988 members, 19 reviews
3.64 stars (3.64 stars)

Lists: advincent (19), Bookkat33 (27), FranzK72 (41), alex68 (49), roby72 (53), thecoroner (71)

Score: 9.62

39
20,000 Leagues under the Sea
by Jules Verne
15,336 members, 224 reviews
3.74 stars (3.74 stars)

Lists: ahef1963 (7), Bookkat33 (9), thecoroner (41), roby72 (41), alex68 (45)

Score: 9.47

40
Paris Spleen (New Directions Paperbook)
by Charles Baudelaire
1,886 members, 16 reviews
4.18 stars (4.18 stars)

Lists: alex68 (12), roby72 (14), Bookkat33 (20), FranzK72 (45), thecoroner (45)

Score: 9.2

41
Cousin Bette
by Honoré de Balzac
2,018 members, 32 reviews
3.92 stars (3.92 stars)

Lists: FranzK72 (13), thorold (16), advincent (17), roby72 (44), thecoroner (57)

Score: 9.09

42
Pensées
by Blaise Pascal
4,298 members, 29 reviews
3.85 stars (3.85 stars)

Lists: inge87 (7), lewbs (25), FranzK72 (36), thecoroner (49), alex68 (51)

Score: 8.89

43
The Beast Within
by Émile Zola
1,431 members, 25 reviews
4.01 stars (4.01 stars)

Lists: thorold (17), Kuiperdolin (20), FranzK72 (24), thecoroner (42), roby72 (51)

Score: 8.74

44
Fables
by Jean de La Fontaine
1,623 members, 17 reviews
3.93 stars (3.93 stars)

Lists: Kuiperdolin (22), thecoroner (22), Bookkat33 (23), FranzK72 (47), roby72 (52)

Score: 8.54

45
Jacques the Fatalist
by Denis Diderot
1,658 members, 22 reviews
3.81 stars (3.81 stars)

Lists: thorold (15), roby72 (29), alex68 (41), FranzK72 (46), thecoroner (47)

Score: 8.4

46
Chéri / The Last of Chéri
by Colette
855 members, 11 reviews
3.94 stars (3.94 stars)

Lists: hipdeep (1), Dilara86 (13), alex68 (37)

Score: 7.73

47
The Fall
by Albert Camus
7,060 members, 75 reviews
3.89 stars (3.89 stars)

Lists: leigonj (2), Insatiable8 (11), advincent (22)

Score: 7.41

48
Salammbô
by Gustave Flaubert
1,704 members, 27 reviews
3.72 stars (3.72 stars)

Lists: Kuiperdolin (7), advincent (21), FranzK72 (43), thecoroner (68)

Score: 7.28

49
The Phantom of the Opera
by Gaston Leroux
11,066 members, 186 reviews
3.75 stars (3.75 stars)

Lists: Bretzky1 (2), Bookkat33 (11), thecoroner (37)

Score: 7.18

50
The Mandarins
by Simone de Beauvoir
1,585 members, 13 reviews
4.11 stars (4.11 stars)

Lists: alex68 (22), FranzK72 (25), thecoroner (28), roby72 (28)

Score: 7.11

51
Querelle of Brest
by Jean Genet
877 members, 10 reviews
3.85 stars (3.85 stars)

Lists: advincent (18), thorold (18), roby72 (55), thecoroner (58)

Score: 6.8

52
The Second Sex
by Simone de Beauvoir
1,993 members, 14 reviews
4.1 stars (4.1 stars)

Lists: thecoroner (24), alex68 (26), roby72 (37), FranzK72 (49)

Score: 6.71

53
Man's Fate
by André Malraux
2,308 members, 34 reviews
3.76 stars (3.76 stars)

Lists: roby72 (19), FranzK72 (37), alex68 (39), thecoroner (69)

Score: 6.53

54
Rameau's Nephew
by Denis Diderot
431 members, 9 reviews
3.33 stars (3.33 stars)

Lists: thorold (19), thecoroner (43), FranzK72 (48), roby72 (60)

Score: 6.44

55
The Count of Monte Cristo
by Alexandre Dumas père
22,240 members, 386 reviews
4.32 stars (4.32 stars)

Lists: thecoroner (23), FranzK72 (42), roby72 (45), alex68 (55)

Score: 6.41

56
The Wall: Stories
by Jean-Paul Sartre
2,599 members, 22 reviews
3.84 stars (3.84 stars)

Lists: roby72 (30), FranzK72 (33), alex68 (38), thecoroner (76)

Score: 6.34

57
The Imaginary Invalid
by Molière
971 members, 14 reviews
3.52 stars (3.52 stars)

Lists: Bookkat33 (28), thecoroner (44), alex68 (50), roby72 (56)

Score: 6.26

58
The Lover
by Marguerite Duras
4,606 members, 141 reviews
3.67 stars (3.67 stars)

Lists: advincent (28), alex68 (42), FranzK72 (44), thecoroner (75)

Score: 6.22

59
The Second Sex [abridged English translation by H. M. Parshley]
by Simone de Beauvoir
4,148 members, 28 reviews
3.94 stars (3.94 stars)

Lists: alex68 (29), FranzK72 (51), thecoroner (53), roby72 (69)

Score: 6.09

60
Nana
by Émile Zola
3,552 members, 58 reviews
3.76 stars (3.76 stars)

Lists: Bookkat33 (29), thecoroner (36), roby72 (40), FranzK72 (50), alex68 (53)

Thumbs down: Bretzky1

Score: 5.93

61
My Father's Glory
by Marcel Pagnol
773 members, 10 reviews
4 stars (4 stars)

Lists: inge87 (2), Dilara86 (12)

Score: 5.51

62
The Complete Essays
by Michel de Montaigne
4,201 members, 44 reviews
4.34 stars (4.34 stars)

Lists: lewbs (6), alex68 (57), thecoroner (62)

Score: 5.44

63
The Man Who Watched the Trains Go By
by Georges Simenon
990 members, 26 reviews
3.74 stars (3.74 stars)

Lists: thorold (20), FranzK72 (29), thecoroner (74)

Score: 4.98

Explanations:

thorold (20): Yes, I know Simenon grew up in Belgium. But.

64
Three Novels: Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable
by Samuel Beckett
2,771 members, 25 reviews
4.15 stars (4.15 stars)

Lists: eromsted (3), advincent (23)

Score: 4.87

65
Tartuffe
by Molière
2,518 members, 31 reviews
3.72 stars (3.72 stars)

Lists: Bookkat33 (29), roby72 (35), thecoroner (59)

Score: 4.81

66
Cousin Pons
by Honoré de Balzac
601 members, 9 reviews
3.83 stars (3.83 stars)

Lists: advincent (24), roby72 (58), thecoroner (64)

Score: 4.67

67
Le Grand Meaulnes
by Alain-Fournier
3,104 members, 71 reviews
3.77 stars (3.77 stars)

Lists: advincent (27), alex68 (52), thecoroner (63)

Score: 4.66

68
The Mysterious Island
by Jules Verne
4,219 members, 73 reviews
3.93 stars (3.93 stars)

Lists: Bretzky1 (5), Kuiperdolin (17)

Score: 4.65

69
The Miser
by Molière
1,040 members, 19 reviews
3.61 stars (3.61 stars)

Lists: Bookkat33 (26), thecoroner (61), roby72 (61)

Score: 4.63

70
Desert
by Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio
620 members, 19 reviews
3.74 stars (3.74 stars)

Lists: roby72 (36), alex68 (58), thecoroner (77)

Score: 4.43

71
Submission
by Michel Houellebecq
1,700 members, 79 reviews
3.64 stars (3.64 stars)

Lists: leigonj (7), lewbs (20)

Score: 4.35

72
Texaco
by Patrick Chamoiseau
558 members, 10 reviews
3.9 stars (3.9 stars)

Lists: Dilara86 (1)

Score: 4

73
A Journey Around My Room
by Xavier de Maistre
291 members, 12 reviews
3.42 stars (3.42 stars)

Lists: henkl (1)

Score: 4

74
Cosmas, or the Love of God
by Pierre de Calan
30 members, 1 review
4 stars (4 stars)

Lists: inge87 (1)

Score: 4

75
The Three Musketeers
by Alexandre Dumas père
19,026 members, 232 reviews
4.07 stars (4.07 stars)

Lists: lewbs (8), thecoroner (66)

Score: 3.78

76
Lost Illusions
by Honoré de Balzac
2,180 members, 28 reviews
4.18 stars (4.18 stars)

Lists: thecoroner (14), alex68 (35)

Score: 3.71

77
The Diary of a Country Priest
by Georges Bernanos
1,475 members, 21 reviews
3.91 stars (3.91 stars)

Lists: alex68 (9), roby72 (34), thecoroner (35)

Thumbs down: Diane-bpcb

Score: 3.61

78
The Confessions
by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
2,831 members, 26 reviews
3.56 stars (3.56 stars)

Lists: advincent (26), roby72 (47)

Score: 3.3

79
Moderato cantabile
by Marguerite Duras
720 members, 11 reviews
3.56 stars (3.56 stars)

Lists: alex68 (34), thecoroner (60)

Score: 3.09

80
Becket
by Jean Anouilh
850 members, 16 reviews
4.03 stars (4.03 stars)

Lists: inge87 (3)

Score: 3.04

81
Camille: The Lady of the Camellias
by Alexandre Dumas fils
2,658 members, 49 reviews
3.67 stars (3.67 stars)

Lists: alex68 (33), thecoroner (73)

Score: 3.04

82
Suite Française
by Irène Némirovsky
9,293 members, 331 reviews
3.97 stars (3.97 stars)

Lists: roby72 (42), thecoroner (78)

Score: 2.92

83
The Belly of Paris
by Émile Zola
1,051 members, 26 reviews
3.94 stars (3.94 stars)

Lists: thecoroner (55), roby72 (62)

Score: 2.89

84
Philosophical Dictionary
by Voltaire
1,098 members, 9 reviews
4.1 stars (4.1 stars)

Lists: thecoroner (56), roby72 (64)

Score: 2.88

85
The Counterfeiters
by André Gide
1,234 members, 8 reviews
3.71 stars (3.71 stars)

Lists: alex68 (54), thecoroner (70)

Score: 2.86

86
The Abyss
by Marguerite Yourcenar
1,513 members, 25 reviews
4.01 stars (4.01 stars)

Lists: roby72 (50), thecoroner (80)

Score: 2.84

87
Bonjour Tristesse
by Françoise Sagan
3,036 members, 97 reviews
3.52 stars (3.52 stars)

Lists: alex68 (48), thecoroner (84)

Score: 2.84

88
Gigi
by Colette
320 members, 7 reviews
3.66 stars (3.66 stars)

Lists: inge87 (4)

Score: 2.83

89
Adolphe
by Benjamin Constant
661 members, 6 reviews
3.57 stars (3.57 stars)

Lists: roby72 (54), thecoroner (81)

Score: 2.81

90
Delta of Venus
by Anaïs Nin
4,398 members, 56 reviews
3.51 stars (3.51 stars)

Lists: roby72 (63), thecoroner (72)

Score: 2.79

91
Justine, Philosophy in the Bedroom, and Other Writings
by Marquis de Sade
1,204 members, 10 reviews
3.63 stars (3.63 stars)

Lists: roby72 (57), thecoroner (82)

Score: 2.79

92
A Void
by Georges Perec
1,398 members, 43 reviews
3.73 stars (3.73 stars)

Lists: Kuiperdolin (5)

Score: 2.68

93
The Knot of Vipers
by François Mauriac
854 members, 16 reviews
4.05 stars (4.05 stars)

Lists: inge87 (5)

Score: 2.68

94
My Mother's Castle
by Marcel Pagnol
548 members, 8 reviews
3.93 stars (3.93 stars)

Lists: inge87 (6)

Score: 2.56

95
The Executioner
by Joseph de Maistre
37 members, 2 reviews
4.5 stars (4.5 stars)

Lists: leigonj (6)

Score: 2.56

96
Whatever
by Michel Houellebecq
2,068 members, 35 reviews
3.43 stars (3.43 stars)

Lists: lewbs (7)

Score: 2.46

97
All the World's Mornings
by Pascal Quignard
299 members, 13 reviews
3.54 stars (3.54 stars)

Lists: Dilara86 (8)

Score: 2.38

98
Ripening Seed
by Colette
569 members, 12 reviews
3.35 stars (3.35 stars)

Lists: Dilara86 (9)

Score: 2.31

99
The Kingdom
by Emmanuel Carrère
435 members, 15 reviews
3.73 stars (3.73 stars)

Lists: lewbs (9)

Score: 2.31

100
Becalmed
by Joris-Karl Huysmans
136 members, 3 reviews
4.03 stars (4.03 stars)

Lists: Kuiperdolin (9)

Score: 2.31

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About this list

Started by: sturlington (September 2013)

Type: Numbered and unnumbered

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