Michel Houellebecq, Extension du domaine de la lutte

Published: January 24th 2025 (week 4 of 2025)

The book is about a 30 year old software programmer with a resigned view of life. Given the similarity to my own situation, the description piqued my curiosity. It is probably known as Whatever to most people, due to the dominating position the English language holds in Western cultural sphere.

I did not read any reviews, opinions, or summaries—except for the blurb at the back—before picking the book up to go into it without any assumptions about what I will find inside. I found it interesting how similar, according to the blurb, the main character and I could be: same age, same job, same "comfortable resignation". A though immediately came to my mind: "Let's see what the author thinks, how he imagines such a life."

Houellebecq was closer to forty rather than thiry when the book had been published, and he is not a programmer, so I do not expect a bit-for-bit perfect portrayal.

I do not smoke "four packs of cigarettes" a day (I do not smoke), but I drink a couple beers every week. Neither do I write "animal stories", but I run role-playing games. So, there will be differences, but I think can substitute the vices and hobbies. It is just curious to me to see a book, see the description of the main character and think: "Damn, that could be me!"

I will write another post once I have read the book.

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