Michel Houellebecq’s novel Submission has caused quite a stir since its release early in 2015. The debate-enthusiastic French threw themselves into the fire of pros and cons while Mr H kept on basking in the publicity he seems to enjoy so much. The saga of a Muslim (political) take over in France in the near future as a result of general liberalisation and misdirected altruism certainly feels like a “hot” topic these days. And could certainly have been fodder for many kinds of brighter fires from all facets of the spectrum. But alas… Submission is possibly the dullest and most boring book I’ve ever read. Its protagonist, a middle aged university teacher whose increasing pangs of existential Angst get meshed with the new Islamic Republic’s petro-dollar infusion into the intellectual sphere, confusedly becomes a victim both of his own weakness and the new masters’ strengths. As such, this plot set up could have been filled with great potential. But Mr H drags everything...
