On Monday, March 14, the jury members of the “Nice Baie des Anges” prize gathered at the Romain Gary Library to present the eight novels shortlisted for the annual literary prize of the city of Nice.
From June 3 to 5, 2022, the 26th edition of the Nice Book Festival will take place, attracting between 50,000 and 60,000 visitors each year.
The “Nice Baie des Anges” prize, which holds significant value in the publishing world, rewards a novel published in the twelve months preceding the Festival.
But before that, the eight members of the professional jury must each choose a novel, which they have also presented today to the ten members of the “popular” jury.
Both the popular jury and the professional jury will have two months to read these eight novels.
They will then meet on May 13 to debate and select the finalist novel through elimination.
The prize will be awarded to the winner on Friday, May 13, by Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, and subsequently presented on Friday, June 3, during the official opening ceremony of this new edition of the Book Festival.
The choice of novels is completely free; the juries select based on a theme they like, a cover that speaks to them, or a title that inspires them. It’s a matter of chance, of encountering a book:
“A book that speaks to us, I don’t know if it’s the book that comes to us or we who go to the book”. Aurelie Gubernatis, member of the professional jury.
The selection:
- The Bear and the Philosopher by Frédéric Vitoux.
- Speak Softly by Elsa Fottorino.
- The Kid by Véronique Olmi.
- The Decision by Karine Tuil.
- Hall of Mirrors by Eric Garandeau.
- Number Two by David Foenkinos.
- Monty by Dominique Dumond.
- In the Name of Sufferings Endured by Thierry Vimal.
The choice of Jean-Luc Gagliolio, deputy mayor and member of the professional jury, fell on Number Two by David Foenkinos, a choice he described as evident; besides appreciating the author and his style, he was captivated by the theme:
“Imagining the life of the person who was not chosen to play Harry Potter, I find the idea absolutely brilliant.”
As for the popular juries, they were selected based on their motivations, aspirations, and also their way of talking about reading. The aim is to have very diverse profiles, such as occasional readers or professionals of words like a literature teacher or even an author. Their common point, a love for literature.
