Michel Houellebecq’s new book: The culture of shame

Of the many sad books written by French writer Michel Houellebecq, his latest slim work is the saddest. In his last, important novel, which was published in spring 2022 under the title “Vernichten”, a spark of joie de vivre and confidence crept into the description of a French family afflicted by cancer and dementia. The tolerable situation of the country, the solid state of politics and the possibility of happiness in marriage were rays of light that surprised, enlightened and delighted the characters of the book, who were always aimless.