NP - Houellebecq on Paris attacks

[Becky Lindroos]

Patrick Modiano is good  (or at least I like his work).  Suspended Sentences: 3 Novellas,  or Missing Persons -  there are more of them translated now - because my French is not up to that. 

My favorite French novel isThe Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery but just because it speaks to me - not because it’s actually that great -  more Buddhist vs German philosophies  - I think possibly. 

I finished Monsieur Lecoq yesterday by Émile Gaboriau  (mid 19th century) a few days ago - if you like Sherlock Holmes type things - based on the real adventures of Vidoq, the first modern type detective.  

Madam Bovary is probably the best novel out of France but it’s depressing.  

Bek


> On Nov 20, 2015, at 7:59 AM, Mark Sacha <msacha1121 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Very much on the fence about reading this one. The Huysmans stuff sounds more compelling to me than the French caving in angle... maybe I should just pick up some Zola instead.
> 
> Looking forward to what you have to say.
> 
> On Fri, Nov 20, 2015 at 10:43 AM, rich <richard.romeo at gmail.com> wrote:
> just started Submission and will probably post something about it when I'm done.
> 
> the essay is classicly overdramatic and overreached. much to be expected. however it is hard to argue with the last two paragraphs, except the last two lines. im not sure what direct democracy is, France being ever governed by mother Paris
> 
> what makes maybe an essay somehat buffoonish works better in fiction or so I think reading 1/4 of Submission
> 
> rich
> 
> On Fri, Nov 20, 2015 at 4:05 AM, matthew cissell <mccissell at gmail.com> wrote:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/21/opinion/how-frances-leaders-failed-its-people.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-right-region&region=opinion-c-col-right-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region&_r=
> 
> Ecce Houellebecq. The Author has spoken, too bad he didn't choose silence. 
> 
> The title blames the leaders. In his second paragraph he attributes the 1986 atttacks to Hezbollah. (Let's pass over his moaning about the lack of a Churchill like leader, but recall what Brecht said in Galileo about the need for leaders.) Then Chez Michel sez the blame is widely shared, but then in the next line he's back to blaming leaders. So which is it Michel?
> 
> Howlabook claims that the "essential mission" of the government is to protect the population. Guess he didn't study Poli-sci.
> 
> Perhaps someone should remind Monsieur H. that the only people responsible for the attacks are the people who perpetrated them. 
> 
> Mon. H. would like to be Zola but this is not his lineage. Michel Houellebecq belongs to the line Joseph de Miastre, Maurice Barres, and Charles Maurras. 
> 
> But is his piece not also part of the game? An essay here or there following on some book release to bump up the numbers, not a rational act following rules but a feel for the game - "Now is the time for this!" A controversial piece to make sure your name stays in the news for some days. (Think back to how Baudrillard made the most out of events by saying something supposedly profound - Iraq war and 2001 attacks.) His blip is growing, and perhaps I should not contribute to it, but when you hear idiocy proclaimed as wisdom it is incumbent upon you to respond.
> 
> Pauvre France. there must be more than Houellebecq and BS Henri Levy. Sure makes me miss Bourdieu.
> 
> ciao
> mc otis
> 
> 

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