As I've now repeatedly mentioned, Michel Houellebecq's new novel Soumission -- out today in France; get your copy at Amazon.fr -- is the big French book-release of the season.
And it's turning out to be even bigger than (I) expected.
After the embarrassment of French Minister of Culture Fleur Pellerin admitting she couldn't be bothered to actually read anything vaguely literary -- like a book -- last fall (see, e.g. Scorn as French culture minister admits 'no time for books') it comes as a somewhat pleasant (if still peculiar) surprise that François Hollande: "Je lirai le livre de Michel Houellebecq parce qu'il fait débat". Yes, le président de la République has taken up Soumission.
I'm not sure this particular book actually merits his (or our) attention -- but given the discussion it's already generated, maybe. And it's hard to imagine an American president or a British PM admitting to picking up a new novel that's so controversial -- especially before they know which way the wind is blowing (re. public opinion). So, yeah: way to go, monsieur Hollande.
Meanwhile, still no word re. a US publication date that I've seen, but in The Bookseller Sarah Shaffi reports that it's: "set to be published in the UK by Cornerstone imprint William Heinemann in autumn this year"; presumably a US edition will follow not too much later (sooner rather than later if the heat and media coverage keeps up). Meanwhile, the German translation is due out ... next Friday (see the DuMont publicity page, or get your copy at Amazon.de)
After the embarrassment of French Minister of Culture Fleur Pellerin admitting she couldn't be bothered to actually read anything vaguely literary -- like a book -- last fall (see, e.g. Scorn as French culture minister admits 'no time for books') it comes as a somewhat pleasant (if still peculiar) surprise that François Hollande: "Je lirai le livre de Michel Houellebecq parce qu'il fait débat". Yes, le président de la République has taken up Soumission.
I'm not sure this particular book actually merits his (or our) attention -- but given the discussion it's already generated, maybe. And it's hard to imagine an American president or a British PM admitting to picking up a new novel that's so controversial -- especially before they know which way the wind is blowing (re. public opinion). So, yeah: way to go, monsieur Hollande.
Meanwhile, still no word re. a US publication date that I've seen, but in The Bookseller Sarah Shaffi reports that it's: "set to be published in the UK by Cornerstone imprint William Heinemann in autumn this year"; presumably a US edition will follow not too much later (sooner rather than later if the heat and media coverage keeps up). Meanwhile, the German translation is due out ... next Friday (see the DuMont publicity page, or get your copy at Amazon.de)