A story of poverty, addiction and the force of motherly love in 1980s Glasgow has been crowned the winner of the UK's top literary award. Debut novelist Douglas Stuart paid tribute to his late mother upon receiving the news of his Booker Prize win, saying that she "is on every page of this book". FRANCE 24's Catherine Khédir-Clifford discusses the touching autobiographical detail in "Shuggie Bain" and the dry humour and compassion that elevate it to must-read status.
We also take a look at a memoir that has become an instant bestseller, as Barack Obama's "A Promised Land" hits bookshelves.
And in Europe the debate over what constitutes "essential goods" has left some literary fans confused as to whether they can pay a trip to their local bookstore.
