- Hardcover: 96 pages
- Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd; illustrated edition edition (3 July 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0434009180
- ISBN-13: 978-0434009183
- Product Dimensions: 18.4 x 12.6 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 167,190 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
Houellebecq's last two novels have received high profile praise and outrage in equal measure, but just possibly (the manuscript is unavailable) this new one may be read and enjoyed/discarded without great fuss. This is because there are signs of Houellebecq already having set out his vision of the world in previous novels, the pr cis for this having loud echoes of Platform with its discourses on sex, politics and religion through the filter of tourism. However, the religion which features in this tale is the 'azraelian' sect, preparing for humanity to be regenerated by extra-terrestrials. Less controversial-sounding than his views on Islam, but sure to be as fascinating and uncomfortable a read as the previous work of (whatever your opinion of the man) a genuinely remarkable writer.
Book Description
'Tremendously enjoyable' Times Literary Supplement
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Mixed reviews for the hardback version of this book, mostly regarding its length. I enjoyed it immensely, but then, I never really got into 'Atomised', much preferring 'Platform'.
OK, 'Lanzarote' is a short (very short) story, in which nothing much happens. Whereas it was said of Beckett's greatest play 'nothing happens... twice', it could be argued that in 'Lanzarote' we don't even get double the nothingness. So what do we get?
A taut, well-written, evocative, erotic, snapshot of a brief moment in time. Like the photographs which accompany the novella, the text itself - the story - is one frame abstracted from a complete roll. Where the rest of that roll is, who knows? That isn't important.
Houellebecq speaks as he finds; unlike those British / American (there really isn't much difference these days - they're all racing for the prize) who dare not speak their minds, MH really doesn't seem to care. And that is why his fiction glows so brightly: it has the rare quality of honestly, and of respect.
Sometimes his characters are a little predictable insofar as we have preconceived ideas of national characteristics, but don't all authors and film-makers prey on this? Let's face it, the world is a small place, but 6 billion is an awful lot of people. We can't all be the same, have the same belief systems, despite BushBlair's best efforts.
But this takes us off the point really. The bottom line is that Houellebecq is a lighthouse in the middle of a dull grey sea (metaphorically speaking, obviously - though who knows what he looks like, his picture's not on the cover for whatever reason he sees fit. This book is tiny, nothing much happens, the characters are pretty odious, and it doesn't do much for Lanzarote's tourism business, but the book is funny (as I was pleased one hardback reviewer here noticed), readable, clever, original, and thought-provoking. I liked it a lot, and I look forward to the next one already. Who knows, I might even have a stab at 'Atomised' again.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Don't expect anything of any length in this story by Houellebecq. Perhaps that is what makes it enjoyable - a snack to be enjoyed in an hour or so. Houellebecq's protagonist (who doesn't wish to have another disapointing New Year) ends up in Lanzarote after wandering into a travel agent and being persuaded by a pushy assistant that this would suit him well. There he meets two German lesbians and a frustrated middle aged Belgian man. Some adventure follows, with the story having as its background a millenial cult called the Azraleans. Funny and bleak, with the odd warm spot, this novella says a lot about contemporay existence. Very good
Format:Paperback
One or two interesting ideas and comments on the times, as always with Houellebecq, though not as well-developed as in 'Atomised' and 'Platform'. Not much else apart from the usual doses of gratuitous sex, rants against religion, especially Islam, and Belgium (for some reason).
I got the impression he couldn't be bothered putting much effort into this book. Just make a quick buck. Needless to say it wouldn't have been published if he wasn't already famous, or infamous. I suggest you read 'Platform' first, if you want the best of Houellebecq.
I got the impression he couldn't be bothered putting much effort into this book. Just make a quick buck. Needless to say it wouldn't have been published if he wasn't already famous, or infamous. I suggest you read 'Platform' first, if you want the best of Houellebecq.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Pretentious or what !!!
This is possibly the worst book I have ever read - luckily it is very short. I have to assume that it loses everything in the translation from French.
Published 12 months ago by Don M
What a waste of time!
I judge a book by its cover; I also judge it by its author and what he or she has written before, which is why I picked up Lanzarote, along with the rest of Houellebecq's work,... Read more
Published on 23 May 2009 by Richard Kunzmann
Platform Pared of the Padding
After slogging through the misogynist, anti-Arab rant that is Platform this is the same idea, but hugely pared down and more enjoyable for its brevity. Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2008 by S. Hartwell
Lanzarote is one of the most beautiful islands in Europe
How dare they call Lanzarote uncultural and hedonistic? It is not the island that is uncultural and hedonistic but the badly educated common tourists that travel there and remain... Read more
Published on 31 July 2007 by J. Larrad
Nothing to offer
Loved his other books - not this one though. It covers many of the same themes but nowhere near as well. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2006 by J. Dunn
Betrayal
I have given this 'pamphlet' one star because reading Houellebecq at this level is still better than reading most things. Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2004
Don’t let this be your introduction to Houellebecq
Houellebecq lets himself down with Lanzarote. Unlike his most recent full length novels – Atomised and Platform – this novella is not book of ideas. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2004 by Stephen Newton
Lanzarote deserves better
If it weren't for the pretty colour pictures of Lanzarote, this wouldn't be worth reading at all. There's no plot or characters, just a bumbling bit of narrative and a few dryish... Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2004 by A. J. Cowburn
There is life on Mars
I like this book. I laughed out loud a few times, which is the highest praise I can offer any author. Read more
Published on 29 Sep 2003 by chris horton
not good value
This was a book that has around 80 pages . It felt like reading 2 chapters and the content was decidely thin. Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2003
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