Suite FrançaiseSuite Française
Score Modern
What it's about
It begins in Paris on the eve of the Nazi occupation in 1940, as Parisians flee the city and human folly surfaces in every way. It then moves to a provincial village where locals must learn to live alongside German soldiers.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a remarkable picture of ordinary people caught in circumstances beyond their control.
You'll love it if you liked
All the Light We Cannot See
The Nightingale
The Remains of the DayGood to know
It's a translation from French. It has a large cast that comes into focus as you read.
By the numbers
- Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller11 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #907 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #1729 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
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Quick answers
Is Suite Française worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,729 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Suite Française about?
It begins in Paris on the eve of the Nazi occupation in 1940, as Parisians flee the city and human folly surfaces in every way. It then moves to a provincial village where locals must learn to live alongside German soldiers.
How long does it take to read Suite Française?
About 11 hours (438 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Suite Française?
If you liked it, try All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah or The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.