[Stewart]

French literature has a fine heritage and continues, from my observations, to be one of those languages from which a larger part of translations to English come from. Possibly because of how close France is to the United Kingdom (and French speaking Canada to the US); but more so likely because French is one of those languages we, at least in the UK, learn in school and therefore there's more French speakers, meaning more potential translators (or is that too simplisitic a notion?).

And, of course, French isn't just limited to France as there's the Francophone literature coming from surrounding nations of Belgium and Switzerland, as well as some African nations and the aforementioned Canada. But I want to keep this thread specifically to literature from France. Other countries can have their own threads.

Personally I've not read any of the French classics - Flaubert, for example - but find I have read more contemporary French literature; names like Florian Zeller, Albert Camus, Michel Houellebecq. And I have Jean Echenoz's Piano climbing its way to the top of my reading pile.

So, recommendations, loves and hates of French literature: what are yours?