Michel Houellebecq: France's New Literary "Enfant Terrible" and Islamophobe

What? Has no one else from Chowk read any of Houellebecq's work? I find that hard to believe.

Sex, Islamophobia, cloning, sex tourism, re-engineering human beings, the collapse of morality in Western society, the triumph of secular liberalism--all these are recurring themes in his work. Surely, here we have enough topics to talk over on Chowk.

I await some responses. The only thing I'd add would be to say if you only read one of these books make sure it is Atomised (in the US it was released as The Elementary Particles) and don't watch the (watchable) German movie based on it until you've read the novel.

no time for these frivolous things. too busy reading chowk and having a scrap here. Maybe you should try it as well sometime. its refreshing.

I have not read these books.

But, regarding "Islamophobia" I can only say that actually it is the "Westphobia" of the Islamists that is the cause of present crisis.

As an idolator , I can say that I am AFRAID of a devout muslim because he would not hesitate to kill me- rathar he would consider it as his honour. Idolators like me have been killed, murderd and raped since ages in Indian sub continent.

The so-called "Islamophobia" is a natural experience of genocide that remains within the idolator's community.

As an idolator I am prepared to act in my self defence if any devout muslim displays belligerence by calling my gods FALSE or cursing me or raising his sword threatening death to idolaros!!!

Thanks for the reviews, Asif. Will try to get my hands on Atomised, if available here-- Or else I'll have you mail it to me. ;-)

no probs. email me if you cannot get hold of it.

laddu,

hundreds of millions of muslims --many of them devout--have lived in india for a millenium. if they wanted to they could have attempted a hitler-like 'final solution' to the hindus of
india as they were the dominant power for 1000 years. they did NOT do so. not even under aurangzeb. so u should stop
believing propaganda and learn to think for yourself.
the words and actions of a few extremists do not mean all muslims hate all non-muslims.

#5 Posted by Naqshbandi

Naqshbandi sahib,

"if they wanted to they could ..... ". What "if they wanted to but could not ...?"

How long will it take you to get rid of this mindset? And you, sir, are whining about "Islamophobia"?

Thanks for the offer, Asif.

re. laddu's comment re. Westophibia and your reply that "the words and actions of a few extremists do not mean all muslims hate all non-muslims", well, of course it doesn't mean that all, or even most, Muslims hate non-Mulsims.... but the point that the few are able to have the impact they do is reason for pause.

I say PAUSE. Your observation that a thousand years of Muslim rule "over" the idolators did not lead to a genocide of the latter is indeed interesting. How much of that had to do with the fact that, under the Moghuls, Islam wasn't politicised, is also an interesting question.

GT,
I am against genocide of anyone but i was just using that to try and make a point to laddu sahib about all muslims in his view being haters of non-muslims.

I also agree with you PM that for most of Islamic history Islam was not politicised; political religion is a problem as the current trend of politicised mullahs shows.

they have managed to shame a great religion.

of course, many of houellebecq's criticisms of islam (i would say islamism) are often made on chowk by other people. his genius is to see that void at the heart of Modern Man whichever religion he may belong to. Indeed, in his book Possibility of an Island he describes (in the words of his character) the demise of all organised religion in the world (wishful thinking on his part perhaps?) as the 21st century progresses; he makes a specific point in his novel of mentioning how islam held out longer than the other religions before succumbing...

#8 Posted by Naqshbandi

Naqsh:

I know you are against genocide and even domination ... I have read you a lot in chowk. I am against the attitude that "we muslims could have done anything with you hindus but because of our superior whatever chose not to do it". That is an inbuilt superiority complex I see in many who religiously proclaim to be Muslims or Hindus ... surprisingly it is missing in masadi and echo!

Re: # 9

GT, honestly I think you are reading too much into Naqshbandi's comment--if anything it can be read as 'hey, the Muslims weren't quite so 'orrendous and genocidal as all that, despite the bad guys or relations weren't so bad b/w H and Ms for one to completely kill the other. I agree with that actually--. It doesn't have much to do with a superiority complex:).

#10 SaimaShah

Thanks for saving me the trouble of saying all that, Saima. :-)

Naqsh;

Thanks for these quickie reviews. I have admiringly watched your progress at chowk from an almost-jihadi-admirer to a humanist. Keep it up! You are the best hope for a kinder, gentler islam, secure in its faith.

Dost, thanks!
But if I'm the 'best' hope then God help us all!!!

:D

I cringe when I read some of my past comments on Chowk. I guess we all grow and learn the older we get (not that I'm very old btw...)

;-)

I do think that some sort of superiority complex is rooted in all but the saintliest of humans. It is the I, 'ana', Ego, khudi, 'main' in Mankind.

Naqsh:

I am sorry for being harsh ... I take it back.

Regards

No problemo :-)

So, if I were to do a straw-poll, how many people have read this? How many would like to read these books?
As an aside: are these books available in Pakistan/India?