gamer reviewed Submission by Michel Houellebecq
Review of 'Submission' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
The book isn't much of an investment, but it still felt like a chore a lot of the times. The characters are extremely intelligent, but not very likeable. Which might not be a problem if they served some higher purpose. From what I could gather, it's about Europe submitting to Islam. And the story is written from the POV of some bored, unfulfilled professor. So it's kind of a pain in the ass to get through the chapters where he's just doing nothing. I think the author is trying to show the average European male, and how liberalism and democracy take away all purpose from him. That is then compared to the fulfilled life of religion (mostly Islam, who solves all problems).
I think the value of this comes from this prediction. People who see this takeover and submission by the natives take hold, will probably find it amazing. I …
The book isn't much of an investment, but it still felt like a chore a lot of the times. The characters are extremely intelligent, but not very likeable. Which might not be a problem if they served some higher purpose. From what I could gather, it's about Europe submitting to Islam. And the story is written from the POV of some bored, unfulfilled professor. So it's kind of a pain in the ass to get through the chapters where he's just doing nothing. I think the author is trying to show the average European male, and how liberalism and democracy take away all purpose from him. That is then compared to the fulfilled life of religion (mostly Islam, who solves all problems).
I think the value of this comes from this prediction. People who see this takeover and submission by the natives take hold, will probably find it amazing. I think the opposite is never explored, as the Muslim immigrants and converts are displayed as this unconquerable warriors of the spirit, and as such can never lose to lesser human desires.
All in all, didn't like the characters, didn't like the story, and the idea of submission was only presented through one, idealistic lens. The actual writing is great, the main character is written amazingly, maybe that's why I found him boring. It's very quotable. I found myself laughing, or admiring hot takes constantly. I've highlighted almost 30 sentences, and only really stopped because I had too many already. Maybe it'd be 4 stars if the French-ness didn't permeate every page. French wine, French places, French authors, French history.