L’impromptu bookstore launches two new literary prizes – Livres Hebdo

The Parisian bookstore L’impromptu is launching two new literary awards. To celebrate its three years of existence, it announced that it was consolidating its desire to “promote literature in all its forms” with the creation of the impromptu prize for the first international novel and the impromptu prize for the Parisian novel.

For this first edition, eight titles are in the running in each category. The 4 finalists chosen by the jury will be submitted to a public vote. The finalists will be announced on Saturday October 23, while the winners will receive their distinction on December 4 during the bookstore’s anniversary evening.

The eight works in the running for the impromptu prize for the first international novel:

• milk teethby Helene Bukowski (Gallmeister)
• make me proudby Nicole Dennis-Benn (Dawn)
• Mortepeauby Natalie Garcia Freire (Christian Bourgois publisher)
• black-sundayby Tola Rotimi Abraham (Otherwise)
• The anarchist who was called like meby Pablo Martin Sanchez (Zulma/La Contre Alle?e)
• Shuggie Bathby Douglas Stuart (Globe)
• Jewish Cock, by Katharina Volckmer (Grasset)
• A brief moment of splendour, by Ocean Vuong (Gallimard)

The jury brings together the authors Emmanuelle Bayamack-Tam, Laurent Petitmangin, Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse, Agne?s Vannouvong and the editor of the “La cosmopolite” collection from Stock editions, Le?a Marty.

The eight titles in the running for the impromptu prize for the Parisian novel:

• surrenderby Se?verine Danflous (Marest Publisher)
• In the spring of watchesby Philippe Jaenada (Mialet-Barrault)
• Over the rainbow, by Constance Joly (Flammarion)
• For me to still love myselfby Maryam Madjidi (The New Attila)
• heart and chaosby Jennifer Murzeau (Julliard)
• Fruits fall from the treesby Florent Oiseau (Allary Editions)
• Familyby Suzanne Privat (Les Avrils)
• The slapby Nicolas Robin (Anne Career)

The jury brings together novelists Sofia Aouine, Arnaud Dudek, Hugo Lindenberg, Sandrine Babu, manager of the L’instant bookstore, and Clément Ribes, editorial director of Editions Christian Bourgois.

Third edition for the prize for the first French-speaking novel

Alongside the impromptu prize for the first international novel and the impromptu prize for the Parisian novel, the bookstore unveils the 2021 selection of its 3^e L’impromptu prize for the first French-language novel. Eight works compete for the literary award.

The eight nominated for the impromptu prize for the first French-language novel:

• Here, Beringiaby Jeremie Brugidou (The Ogre)
• let me join youby Amina Damerdji (Gallimard)
• Love and violenceby Diana Filippova (Flammarion)
• So theby Rebecca Gisler (Verdier)
• Great Crown, of Salome? Kiner (Bourgois)
• Mars Purpleby Oana Lohan (Les e?ditions du chemin de fer)
• Before the world closesby Alain Mascaro (Otherwise)
• The boys of the garden cityby Dan Nisand (Les Avrils)
• Stereo, by Antoine Philias (from Ecuador)
• Blizzardby Marie Vingtras (L’Olivier)

The jury is composed? members of the Compagnons de L’impromptu association.

Created by Jérémy Derny in 2018, L’Impromptu is located rue Sedaine in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. The cultural establishment is installed on 77 m², in premises belonging to Semaest (mixed economy company of the city of Paris). It offers a generalist offer of 7000 titles, with a strong representation in social sciences, but also stationery, and a coffee area.