the duel between Jean-Baptiste Andrea and Neige Sinno – L’Express

2023-11-05 10:15:00

Who would have bet on them in mid-August? These two authors, barely known to the general public, have become in a few weeks the heroes of the 2023 vintage, by which we mean the two writers acclaimed by the press, readers and juries. Two survivors of the literary season with 466 titles, including 321 French. They have been in our list of best-selling novels for more than two months, which, in figures, translates into more than 50,000 copies sold for Veiller sur elle by Jean-Baptiste Andrea and more than 45,000 for Triste tigre of Snow Sinno.

Each of the two has already gleaned a few laurels: the Fnac novel prize for the 52-year-old from Cannes and the literary prizes for Le Monde and Les Inrockuptibles and the Blù Jean-Marc Roberts prize for his younger sister, 46 years old, living in Mexico. A list which has a strong chance of growing since they both appear in the latest selections for the autumn grand prizes: those of Goncourt and Femina, to which must be added, for Andrea, the Interallié and, for Neige Sinno, the Medici.

So, what to say? That the jurors have very good taste. These are indeed two remarkable books, and very different. The first, Watch over her, which takes place in fascist Italy and the world of sculptors, is a great romantic fresco, with its endearing characters, its fascinating historical context and an exciting narrative structure. The second, Sad Tiger, is part of the best autofiction, a source of fascinating questions and captivating reflections on incest. Whatever the result of the prizes (November 6 for the Femina, the 7th for the Goncourt, the 9th for the Médicis, the 14th for the Interallié and the 23rd for the Goncourt des lycéens), these two authors have now and already won our admiration.

Let us also point out in ambush Gaspard Koenig, 22nd in the edistat ranking, whose very good novel Humus has to date sold some 20,000 copies. He is also a finalist of Goncourt, Renaudot and Interallié. Finally, let’s mention Eric Reinhardt, who yoyos in our top 30, and who appears in the latest Goncourt and Medici lists with his novel Sarah, Suzanne and the Writer, published by Gallimard. He is the last foal from the august house, with Lilia Hassaine (Panorama) for the Renaudot and Dominique Barbéris (A way of loving) for the Médicis, to be able to win an autumn grand prize.

She does not need prices, but consideration and listening. This is what we understand when reading her autobiography, The Woman in Me, in which the 41-year-old American star, Britney Spears, recounts the different influences she suffered since her first steps on stage, at the age of ten. years. Published on October 24 and printed in 150,000 copies, The Woman in Me emerges on the podium of our essay list.