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Sumision
Sumision | Michel Houellebecq
Paris, 2022. Franois is bored. He's a middle-aged lecturer at the Sorbonne and an expert on J. K. Huysmans, the famous nineteenth-century "decadent" author. But Franois's own decadence is considerably smaller in scale. He sleeps with his students, eats microwave dinners, reads the classics.
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Margeaux
Soumission | Michel Houellebecq

N‘y a-t-il pas au fond quelque chose d‘un peu ridicule à voir cette créature chétive, vivante sur une planète anonyme d‘un bras écarté d‘une galaxie ordinaire, se dresser su ses petits pattes pour proclamer: “Dieu n‘existe pas”?

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Margeaux
Soumission | Michel Houellebecq

Ils aiment qu‘on les écoutes, tous les enquêteurs le savent; tous les enquêteurs, tous les écrivains, tous les espions.

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Margeaux
Soumission | Michel Houellebecq

L‘amour chez l‘homme n‘est rien d‘autre que la reconnaissance pour le plaisir donné.

1 like1 stack add
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TheEllieMo
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Mehso-so

Billed as a satire, and described on the cover as “darkly funny” and “electrifying”, so maybe I‘m missing something. My main takeaway would be how easy it is to accept the subjugation of one group‘s rights provided you yourself are benefitted. But I found myself questioning the author‘s views and was not surprised, when I researched him after finishing the book, to find he has been tried for inciting racial hatred - though cleared of all charges.

rockpools He‘s a strange one. I can‘t figure out how much he thinks like he writes, or how much it‘s just to get a rise out of people. Which is probably his point, but 😬 4y
TheEllieMo @RachelO yes, I‘ve been thinking about the book a lot since I finished it yesterday morning, and the more I think about it, the more I am hit by some of its subtleties. 4y
26 likes1 stack add2 comments
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tricours
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Pickpick

I love the way Houellebecq writes, even though he has a tendency to become quite obnoxious. His extremely male perspective on everything is just that, extremely male — and therefore limited. But he sure can write.

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Octoberwoman
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
Bailedbailed

Could not get interested in this, even after 100 pages, so gave up.

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tricours
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Too sick to sew so reading an actual book it is. I had forgotten how magnificently Houellebecq writes.

Ingerella I hope you feel better! 6y
julesG Get well soon! 6y
Sarah83 Feel better soon 6y
28 likes3 comments
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Thndrstd
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Pickpick

In the near future, the French government is taken over by Muslims. Meanwhile, Francois, a middle-aged college lecturer about the 19th century author J.K. Huysmans, is bored. Changes in French culture swirl around him and he is soon caught up in them. This is less of a book about a major hypothetical political/religious change as it is about middle-aged masculinity and the search for meaning in contemporary life. Smart and thought-provoking.

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Buechersuechtling
Unterwerfung: Roman | Michel Houellebecq
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Eine Stunde, vielleicht auch etwas mehr, habe ich verpasst ? – aber es gar nicht bemerkt. Ich konnte mühelos wieder in die Handlung einsteigen und hatte nie das Gefühl, etwas verpasst zu haben. Im Gegenteil: Je weniger ich von dem selbstbezogenen Protagonisten und seinem für mich entweder inhaltsleeren, weil literarisch, oder pornografischen Geschwafel hören musste, desto besser.

„Der Islam ist toll für Männer. Frauen müssen ihnen dienen.“ ?

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Buechersuechtling
Unterwerfung: Roman | Michel Houellebecq
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Panpan

Bis zur Hälfte politisch glaubhaft. Danach sind die politischen und gesellschaftlichen Veränderungen noch mehr Nebensache als bis dahin schon.

Mein erster und letzter Houellebecq. Ich verstehe die literarischen Ergüsse nicht – auch Huysmans kenne ich nicht. Er ist das Füllmaterial, das sonst keine Rolle spielt.

Midlife-krisige Typen mit Porno-„Frauen-sind-Objekte“-Fantasien wie François brauche ich nicht.

Keine Lese-/Hörempfehlung‼️

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Buechersuechtling
Unterwerfung: Roman | Michel Houellebecq
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Irgendwann zwischen Stunde 1,5 und Stunde zwei wird es besser. Erträglicher. Kann aber auch sein, dass ich mich ab dem Punkt an den Stil und die „Handlung“ gewöhnt habe. Ich werde es zu Ende hören, aber nicht weil es so spannend ist, sondern schlicht, weil ich wissen will, wie es ausgeht.

Allzu viele Pausen beim hören sollte man nicht machen, sonst verliert man in dem vielen politischen Input den Faden.

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Buechersuechtling
Unterwerfung: Roman | Michel Houellebecq
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Christian Berkel liest gut, aber ich bin schon jetzt, eine Stunde nach Hörbuchbeginn, froh, dass ich es mir nicht gekauft habe, sondern es als Hörbuch höre. Zum Lesen wäre mir das vom Schreibstil her zu anstrengend, ehrlich.

Bis jetzt ist mir die Hauptperson sehr unsympathisch. Arrogant.

Überhaupt hoffe ich, dass das Buch insgesamt fesselnder wird.

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Buechersuechtling
Unterwerfung: Roman | Michel Houellebecq
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Nachdem mich die letzten Tage mit Hörbuch zur Arbeit gefahren bin und mein aktuelles früher an diesem Tage beendet habe, habe ich beschlossen, dass das eigentlich ganz angenehm ist, sngenehmer als Radio, und mir für morgen dieses hier ausgeliehen.
Das wollte ich schon lesen, seit es erschienen ist.
Jetzt hör ich es halt.

Ein bisschen enttäuscht bin ich aber, dass es „nur“ 3,7 Sterne hat.

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keithmalek
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Lcsmcat Bien sûr ! ? 6y
19 likes1 comment
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keithmalek
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
Panpan

Written in 2015, Submission is a speculative novel about the continued appeasement to France's Muslim immigrants, which results in the Muslim Brotherhood winning the presidential election in 2022. Despite such a fascinating plot,
Houellebecq seems much more interested in writing about literature and Catholicism. Also, readers who are expecting something dramatic to happen will be terribly disappointed.

ReadingEnvy Yeah it should have been the most relevant novel of that year but somehow wasn't. Even worse - his poetry. I loved some of his earlier works. 6y
22 likes1 comment
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AndjoSant
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Mehso-so

Though highly topical given its release on the same day as the Charlie Hebdo attacks and how close Marine Le Pen actually got to the French presidency,
Submission is highly topical and prescient. I wasn't entirely convinced though, I thought it would have more bite. It wasn't as controversial as expected.

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Eva_B
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Panpan

I thought this book was going to be thought provoking and interesting....unfortunately it was neither.

sife Your opinion is wrong 7y
keithmalek @sife An opinion cannot be wrong. Most people, by the age of about five or six, understand the difference between a fact and an opinion. 6y
3 likes2 comments
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Eva_B
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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I'm reading this because John Safran talked about it in his book...plus I love any book that is set in France

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Simona
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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For me was the last book #setinfrance this one. My favorite in June, set in the near future in France, with slightly provocative ideas ... but I wouldn't expect anything less from him. As I wrote in my review - even if you don't agree with him, this book is good and definitely worth of your time.

#jubilantjuly

ClairesReads I totally agree- these are not my political leanings at all but what a novel?! It was so well done! 7y
Simona @ClairesReads I saw panel talk about this book on the YT and the conclusion was, that this is a bad book, story about nothing... I agree, that some side stories aren't necessary, but story about nothing!? 7y
ClairesReads @Simona reallly?! That's insane!!! 7y
Simona @ClairesReads I found i! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o4LXMR-RdQQ It's long panel, but interesting view on the book. 7y
59 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Simona
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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#bestofjune for me was book in the tag, because the idea behind the story is provocative, but very smoothly executed.

#junebookbugs

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BarbaraBB
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Pickpick

A book about the near future of France, in which the Muslim Brotherhood wins the elections. The islam takes over and everybody seems happy.
However, this is Houellebecq, the enfant terrible of French literature, and famous for his islamofobia.
Houellebecq describes how France thrives and men enjoy a light version of the sharia (with polygamy and alcohol), but we know how the author thinks about islam. We know he describes a Trojan horse.

keithmalek This isn't about Islamophobia. It's about the very real dangers of radicals who fail to assimilate to a culture of Western liberal values. And the European sociologist who originally coined the term Islamophobia (this was before Europe's migrant crisis) regrets coining that term since it is now misused to describe anyone who (rightfully) expects Muslims to assimilate to those Western liberal values. 6y
BarbaraBB I didn‘t say the book is about islamophobia (which it indeed isn‘t), I said Houellebecq is one - which he is, I think, according to the definition you use? (edited) 6y
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Simona
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Pickpick


I liked it - because the main character is anti-hero, and he is a nasty and selfish opportunist until the very end, because the story is socio-critical in a provocative way, and the author uncompromising puts the reader in front of the question - what would you do in a situation like this, and I like it, because it's great with literary references, through the whole story. If you are ready for the provocative author and his view on France in 👇

Simona the near future, then I absolutely recommend it, despite some weak/unnecessary points in the narrative, story is an intelligent provocation on several levels, exposing a few of the stereotypical beliefs, and even if you don't agree with the author's views on the world - it is a good book. 7y
Moray_Reads Great review. This is the second time I've seen this book mentioned today, maybe it's time to add it to the TBR! 7y
Hobbinol This one's been on my TBR list for a while so I'm happy to hear you liked it. Shoot, I've had another book of his on my TBR list even longer: 7y
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Simona @Moray_Reads Thanks ☺️ I've read two of his previous books , and this is, as the story, the simplest, but it is a book, that perfectly captures the zeitgeist of today's Europe, and it is so wisely/gently provocative (with ideas and language) that I constantly thinking about it, and @Hobbinol because I liked it, I feel at the some level manipulated by the author and I don't know how to explain this 🤔 7y
Hobbinol If you have Netflix, they have The Kidnapping of Michel Houellebecq. (I haven't seen it yet.) 7y
Simona @Hobbinol I don't have it, but I saw the trailer on YouTube, so I'm sure, that I can find the whole movie there too. Thanks for reminding me on that movie. 7y
64 likes6 comments
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Simona
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Not exactly #junemostanticipated but those two are from my #TBR list for #litsyAtoZ challenge, and the only two books for which I know for sure, that I'm going to read them in June.

#junebookbugs #splashintosummerreads

tricours I've got both of these too! 8y
BibliophileMomma Submission's cover has me intrigued. 8y
Simona @Tiffy_Reads It's a political satire with a lot of buzz, here in Europe, and the Houellebecq is the author who knows how to evoke emotions. 8y
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Simona @tricours I'm starting Submission today and after that Purity ... and I'm looking forward for the pictures of your HUGE order 👍 8y
seebiscan I love this cover for Purity! 8y
ClairesReads I loved both of these. Hope you do too 7y
Simona @seebiscan It's shiny, eye-catching cover. I like it too. 7y
Simona @ClairesReads I'm over the half of the Submission and I like it so far. 7y
62 likes1 stack add8 comments
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tricours
Soumission | Michel Houellebecq
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Brussels book haul!

batsy Despentes! 😍 8y
Sarah83 looks like much reading time 😍 8y
LeahBergen 😍😍😍 8y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled 👏👏👏🙌 8y
42 likes4 comments
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eshchory
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
Mehso-so

Nowhere near as controversial and provocative as I had expected. But it was still interesting and the translation is as good as everyone claims. I could have lived without the graphic sex scenes

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MattSessions
Submission | Michel Houellebecq

"There's nothing enigmatic about it, unless you psychologize like a women's magazine, where everyone's reduced to some kind of consumer demographic: the eco-responsible urban professional, the brand-conscious bourgeoise, the LBGT-friendly club girl, the satanic geek, the techno-Buddhist. They invent a new one every week. I don't match up with some preconceived consumer profile, that's all."

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ClairesReads
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this biting satire. Houellebecq presents an imagined future France in which the Muslim Brotherhood has won the election . The France that emerges in the novel is plausible and presented without hysteria. While I could sense the authors right wing political leanings- which don't align with my own, this was engaging and thoughtfully constructed.

EliNeedsMoreShelves This sounds VERY interesting. 8y
31 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ClairesReads
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Cheese. An important feature of France

PennCage Haha, that's hilarious 8y
28 likes1 comment
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ClairesReads
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Brutal but accurate

EloisaJames As a Shakespeare professor, I'm bound to defend my profession--I have to say that 20 years of teaching student after student to love Shakespeare and sending them into adulthood with some of his ideas and rhythms of speech isn't a small thing. 8y
ClairesReads @EloisaJames oh I totally hear you- I'm a high school English teacher too. I felt that the trajectory rang true 😘 8y
MyNamesParadise I majored in English and am not a teacher, so yeah I get this... 8y
28 likes3 comments
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AngisBuecherkiste
Unterwerfung: Roman | Michel Houellebecq

„Ein Buch, das man mag, ist zudem vor allem ein Buch, dessen Autor man mag, dem man gern begegnet, mit dem man gern seine Tage verbringt.“

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AngisBuecherkiste
Unterwerfung: Roman | Michel Houellebecq
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Pickpick

Michel Houellebecqs Sprache ist schön und klar, sein verwendetes Tempo empfinde ich für das Lesen als angenehm. Meine Bewertung für dieses Buch sind ganz klar fünf von fünf möglichen Sternen und ich empfehle es absolut weiter. Natürlich kam das Buch zum richtigen aktuellen, politischen Zeitpunkt auf den Markt, doch dass es sich hierbei um eine Fiktion handelt, darf der Leser meiner Meinung nach jedoch nicht vergessen.

dekabrista Houellebecq ist ein alter Jammerlappen, aber auch ein scharfer Beobachter. 8y
AngisBuecherkiste Bei scharfer Beobachter stimme ich Dir zu, als Jammerlappen empfinde ich ihn jedoch nicht, eher als guten Schauspieler. @dekabrista 8y
15 likes1 stack add2 comments
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kovacs_heni
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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on the road

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veryaner
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Me atrapó. Gracias NU por estás joyas...

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Simona
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Pile of "real" books and ebooks from longlist for #ManBooker2016

#augusthaul #augustphotochallenge

brendanmleonard I got Hystopia from the library last week. Also, that Eileen cover is a choice. 🤔😂 8y
Simona @brendanmleonard Hystopia was for me hard one, because of the writing style. Eileen cover is screenshot from iBook for book in Dutch. I have black one on my kindle and I refuse to buy it in paper form until I found the nicer one😳 8y
64 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Heather_Reads
Soumission | Michel Houellebecq
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Today is #NationalBookshopDay here in Australia. Unfortunately I can't get to a bookshop today, so I celebrated a day early and went to the Dymocks near my work yesterday and picked up this French to English dictionary to use in my new project - translating a French novel into English. Did I mention I don't speak a lick of French?
I hope all my fellow Aussie readers have an excellent day and thanks Aussie bookshops for keeping us well read!

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BookMusings
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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A whole lot of minimalist with a pop of color! I did not realize I had so many white covers... 😀
#augustphotochallenge

73 likes1 stack add
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Eugeniavb
Soumission | Michel Houellebecq
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Pickpick

This controversial book is less a critical view of Islam's growing power in Europe, than a denunciation of how european (french in particular) society has lost its strength and worth in the face of modernity and globalization. Very interesting read. Well written.

Kathrin I really enjoyed this one!! 👍🏻 8y
5 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Minervasbutler
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
Pickpick

Chilling because totally plausible. And the suggestion is that so decadent is Western society that we will deserve to lose it

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Yossarian
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Mehso-so

Twenty years in the future, the French elections comes down to a run-off between Le Pen's National Front and the Muslim Brotherhood. What's a leftist professor to do? It's an interesting thought experiment from a Right-wing satirist, but the story doesn't live up to the fascinating concept.

16 likes6 stack adds
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Knowledgelost
Submission | Michel Houellebecq
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Pickpick

This is a book I read in 24 hours, I was so addicted to it. I just had to keep reading and reading. New favourite for me.