Paris (AFP)
The novelist Guillaume Musso whose next book, "Life is a novel", expected in bookstores on May 26, was the most read author during confinement, according to a study by the GfK Institute for Weekly Books.
"Eight weeks of confinement, bookstores closed, the book market collapsing. Yet the books have sold, with fiction and pocket size in mind," said the professional magazine on Tuesday on its website.
At the head of sales, we find Guillaume Musso, favorite author of the French for nine years, who was a hit with the pocket edition of "The secret life of writers" (Pocket Book).
Musso shares the podium with Michel Bussi who takes second place in the ranking with "I had to dream too hard" and Aurélie Valognes who ranks third in the best sales with "La icing on the cake" (Pocket Book).
Michel Bussi succeeds in being cited three times in the Top 20. His latest large-format novel, "Au soleil redouté" (Presses de la Cité), published in February, was the fifth best-selling book during the confinement. The pocket edition of "Everything on Earth Must Perish" (Pocket) is in 19th place.
Aurélie Valognes is also present more than once in the ranking. His latest large-format novel, "Born under a good star" (Mazarine) ranks 7th among the best-selling books during confinement.
In terms of large formats, there is also Leïla Slimani whose latest novel, "The land of others" (Gallimard) ranks 10th.
The prize-winner Goncourt's book was released a few days before confinement and Gallimard decided to put it on sale again at the end of the month.
Still on the large format side, Pierre Lemaitre ("Miroir de nos pines", Albin Michel), and Agnès Ledig ("Se le dire finally", Flammarion) found their readers. Their novel ranks 13th and 14th respectively.
The best-selling book in France in 2019, Asterix's latest album, "La fille de Vercingétorix" was also bought a lot during the confinement. The album of the adventures of the Gauls created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo (disappeared during confinement) is the only comic book in the best-selling ranking and occupies 20th place.
© 2020 AFP