More books

[shehasnostrings]

I've been slack with books so far this year. Bought too many and read too few. Rather enjoyed the ones I have read so far, though:

Comments

[shehasnostrings]

Really? I'd like to do some sort of study in that area, so it looks like I'm halfway there. ;)

[frenchthebully]

I agree with you on the Maureen Dowd book...I didn't think it was _terrible_, but I was pretty disappointed. I usually love her writing and this was kind of a let-down.

[shehasnostrings]

I haven't read any of her other writing so I don't have anything to compare it to. But I guess when she's reporting on politics for newspaper columns she can't really write in such a nuanced way.

[shehasnostrings]

Yep. And Thailand, and Cambodia. ;)

[scopo]

I don't think you can begin to understand Houellebecq until you realise his connection with Guy Debord. Houellebecq is performing what the Situationists dubbed 'detournement' - creative (yet intentionally banal and repetitive) plaigiarism.

His self-alienation is an oh-so-French pose (hello Jean-Paul, M.Baudrillard, et al!), yet inasmuch as he is being intentionally self-parodic, and pointing out how gullible most of his audience are, he is also deeply serious.

All that said, he's becoming a less and less interesting read ;)

[shehasnostrings]

Well colour me gullible.

Thanks for the tutorial, it really does make more sense now that I know this. I kind of thought there must have been something more to it than purely unintentional repetition, especially considering Houellebecq seems to have such a refined wit.

Have you read The Possibility of an Island?

[scopo]

I have, and I quite enjoyed it. It also has at its centre the development of a cult, but it has more of a sci-fi feel, with 'flashbacks' from 24 generations in the future.

It's less intentionally shocking and more ... depressed, resigned. 'Ah, ze world iz, how you say?, fucked ...'

[eclipsedeyes]

mind if I add you?

[shehasnostrings]

Hello! I believe we were friends back when I was roll_with_it, ja? I've added you back.