Submission

A prophetic book published in 2015 but of particular interest now with French elections. Themes of sexism, hypocrisy, islamophobia,racism, relationships with women, populism, academia, intellectualism,
A marvellous read although a disappointing ending. Read it twice. Suppression of women - would it have been this easy? What were the wider repercussions and implications? What would be the response of other countries on France’s borders to the Muslim Brotherhood?
At times confusing as to which characters were actually real politicians ( Marine le Pen, Bayrou etc) and those who were made up (Mohammed Ben Abbas). Had to look a lot of things up - not familiar enough with the detail of French politics or literature.
A thought provoking satire. At times got lost in all the detail of French literature and philosophy but on a second skim read today it all came together. A powerful treatise and a fascinating but frightening premise. A challenging read at times - theories of nativism, distributism, naturalism, rationalism, materialism etc
Interesting ideas about empire - Roman-Ottoman - Napoleon - a new Europe: “ Europe had reached a point of such putrid decomposition that it could no longer save itself anymore than 5th century Rome”
“Liberal individualism when it attacked the ultimate social structure, the family, and this the birth rate, signed its own death warrant: Nietzsche
Interesting juxtaposition between Catholicism and Islam - focus on the family, rules, procreation.
Oversimplified with a focus on Francois and the men perhaps predictably.
Francois a thoroughly dislikable protagonist. Would women have accepted the new regime quite so easily? Houellebecq mocking academia. Francois deliberately portrayed as a purposeless, lonely, arrogant, unpleasant, mysogynistic individual who is persuaded with the promise of polygamous relationships and a university job to convert to Islam.
Strong and disturbing dystopic vision of an all to possible and plausible future? Political message perhaps diluted a bit by Francois’ appalling attitudes and behaviour which perhaps provided a distraction. I have deducted points due to his graphic descriptions and for leaving his mother in a pauper’s grave!
Excellent analysis here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1231191446 and also Douglas Wade who sadly missed the meeting, shared his views below under Rob's amazing sketch of the author. Don't miss either below in detail : "For all those who castigate him for misogyny and sexism, here's a devastating Feminist tale - the complete reinstatement of the Patriarchy, no less - with the acquiescence of supposedly liberal & decent men.." "what a condemnation of those genuinely liberal forces embodying Enlightenment values who won't work together but squabble over peripheral issues and thereby leave the door open to the reactionaries.
- another sickening, deadly, barb - close to the bone - from Houellebecq."
A German language TV movie of the book- Unterwerf - is available on DVD or in some European versions of Netflix and Amazon Prime. We were all keen to watch.
Points ranged from 6 to 9 with a total of 66 so an average of 7.5