I read and half-enjoyed this a while ago. There's certainly a lot of reference to sex in the book, which didn't seem very relevant to the main theme. I naïvely thought it was there because the author was French.
It's a while ago since I read it. Is the gratuitous sex a nod to the debauchery of our own society, hence allowing the Islamic demon' to gain a foothold.
I'll watch this shortly, once I'm out of the dull work meeting that's currently taking place.
One thing that many people seem to miss about Houellebecq is the humour in his writing, and it's a very dry wit. There were parts of Submission where I almost laughed out loud, which may seem incongruous, given that overall it's a pessimistic - almost nihilistic - novel. Laughter in the dark, as they say.
"Something the French are experts in of course..." Henceforth, Nick, you are banned from eating saucisson and snails.
I recommend the novel 'Submission' as a compulsory text for all literature students of whatever nationality. Some hope!
The Bataclan, the Manchester Evening News Arena, the Nova Music Festival (and, to some degree, Glastonbury, 2025) all point us in a certain direction.
Although I am a big fan of the subject History, sometimes, the best map and chart to this subject is the literary novel. 'Gulag' (Anne Applebaum) or 'Barbarossa' (Jonathan Dimbleby) are masterworks in the non-fictional narration and exploration of historic events, but so is the fiction of Hilary Mantel masterly in its depiction of the texture, fanaticism and grit of the Tudor era. Her (non-fiction) characters live in the present, breathe the same air as we and are at the mercy of the same 'slings and arrows' as we.
Thank you, Nick, for this episode in the illumination of literature.
Might you be tempted to send a copy of 'Submission' to the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?
I read and half-enjoyed this a while ago. There's certainly a lot of reference to sex in the book, which didn't seem very relevant to the main theme. I naïvely thought it was there because the author was French.
It's a while ago since I read it. Is the gratuitous sex a nod to the debauchery of our own society, hence allowing the Islamic demon' to gain a foothold.
He has that in every book. It actually is just that he’s French.
I'll watch this shortly, once I'm out of the dull work meeting that's currently taking place.
One thing that many people seem to miss about Houellebecq is the humour in his writing, and it's a very dry wit. There were parts of Submission where I almost laughed out loud, which may seem incongruous, given that overall it's a pessimistic - almost nihilistic - novel. Laughter in the dark, as they say.
Just ordered this book!
"Something the French are experts in of course..." Henceforth, Nick, you are banned from eating saucisson and snails.
I recommend the novel 'Submission' as a compulsory text for all literature students of whatever nationality. Some hope!
The Bataclan, the Manchester Evening News Arena, the Nova Music Festival (and, to some degree, Glastonbury, 2025) all point us in a certain direction.
Although I am a big fan of the subject History, sometimes, the best map and chart to this subject is the literary novel. 'Gulag' (Anne Applebaum) or 'Barbarossa' (Jonathan Dimbleby) are masterworks in the non-fictional narration and exploration of historic events, but so is the fiction of Hilary Mantel masterly in its depiction of the texture, fanaticism and grit of the Tudor era. Her (non-fiction) characters live in the present, breathe the same air as we and are at the mercy of the same 'slings and arrows' as we.
Thank you, Nick, for this episode in the illumination of literature.
Might you be tempted to send a copy of 'Submission' to the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?