Michel Houellebecq

expect a cruel and smart description of the life of beta males. I really enjoy it. Dunno about the Possibility of an island, but the 2 other ones are great.

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Not to bash translations in general, but the English translations might make Houellebecq look a bit less nuanced than how he actually writes.

I consider the books are a reaction on the current way of living in western Europe, especially the regions France, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, so if he names a politician look them up and see what they did and say to understand the situation.

For me Houellebecq is an important contemporary writer, I consider his work to be relevant.

>>9121626
My opinion is similar to this, but Hollaback is really a one-trick pony, if you've read one of them, you've read them all. Possibility Of An Island is a bit unique because it's in a SF setting, but one of the characters is the usual beta woe-is-me self-insert he always makes his books about.

>>9121612
i also like them alot.
the themes are a little repetitive, but its a very enjoyable read. the prose is easy, mais a point.
you can easily identify and still make fun of the contral character.
he is what id call a true conservative, however possibly a left leaning one. he has no great imagination but a pitiless view of our current times

>>9121627
OP here.
I am actually German and read them in German, I don't know if the translation is any better than the English one, but I sure as hell will not start learning French. There's a reason I picked up Latin in school when I had to decide between the two of them.

Thanks for the input!

>>9121630
>if you've read one of them, you've read them all
I don't agree. What you see in his early work is a display of the results of liberalism such as sexuality as a marketplace and the have-nots it creates in Whatever and the bankrupcy of progressive hippie idealism that has proven to merely be a cover for narcissistic self-indulgence in The Elementary Particles rather than achievement of a higher moral order as it was originally presented. He then explores hedonistic and transhumanist answers to these problems in the sci-fi tendencies of his work, but then in Submission he offers neo-traditionalism as a possible answer, not as one that should come about but as one that necessarily fills the vacuum our enlightenment values and their lack in providing order and meaning in our lives.

He broadly deals with the same subject, but explores it from different angles and deals with different solutions.

>>9121652
>literally me

>>9121627
How do you find the difference between the French and English?

I've heard people say that Houellebecq is considered a really brilliant but also very subtle
prose stylist.

>>9121612

elementary particles > submission > possibility of an island

>>9121658

''Dans un système économique où le licenciement est prohibé, chacun réussit plus ou moins à trouver sa place.
Dans un système sexuel où l'adultère est prohibé, chacun réussit plus ou moins à trouver son compagnon de lit.
En système économique parfaitement libéral, certains accumulent des fortunes considérables; d'autres croupissent dans le chômage et la misère.
En système sexuel parfaitement libéral, certains ont une vie érotique variée et excitante; d'autres sont réduits à la masturbation et la solitude.
Le libéralisme économique, c'est l'extension du domaine de la lutte, son extension à tous les âges de la vie et à toutes les classes de la société. De même, le libéralisme sexuel, c'est l'extension du domaine de la lutte, son extension à tous les âges de la vie et à toutes les classes de la société.
''

Houellebecq is pretty clear about what he's trying to say.

I think everyone should start with Whatever (what an awful translation of the title)

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>>9121612
"Extension du domaine de la lutte" (edl), "Les particules elementaires" (pe) and "Plateforme" (pf) have a kind of an inner connection and you can consider them as trilogy. Therefore, you should at least read edl and pe one after another. Pf isn't that great imo but you should read it before you start reading "Soumission" - "Soumission" only get's really interesting if you know H's earlier writings: especially pf and some of the interviews he gave while he was marketing pf.
"La possibilite d'une ile" is oftentimes seen as a sequel to pe - but I think it's pretty much H's only failure so far.

>>9122056
Top kek!

Post twist: Houellebecq is marxist.