Amélie Nothomb Publishes 35th Novel 'L’Adolescence du perroquet' with Albin Michel

Amélie Nothomb's 35th novel, L’Adolescence du perroquet, was released by Éditions Albin Michel on October 1, 2026. The book follows Alban, a solitary Parisian who takes in Jo, a young African grey parrot from Gabon, and becomes his devoted protector. As the bird matures, their bond grows more complex, challenging Alban's assumptions. Blending humor, tenderness, and irony, the narrative examines attachment, responsibility, and parenthood. Nothomb had previously explored her fascination with birds in Psychopompe, which stemmed from her adolescence in Bangladesh. The author discussed the new work as a guest of Nathalie Amar on RFI. In a related report, RFI correspondent Bruno Duval noted that Japan now has fewer than 10,000 bookstores, down from 25,000 in the late 1990s, with 28% of municipalities lacking any bookstore. A national mobilization involving the government, municipalities, and professionals is underway to rescue booksellers, with innovative efforts observed in Tokyo.