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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   2394 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for January 25, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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The Map and the Territory by Hollaback. Author hate-inserts himself literally. Still waiting for something to actually happen.

Have you read other Houellebecq (lol Hollaback)? I think Submission and The Elementary Particles are better than the Map and the Territory.

I’ve read two, The Elementary Particles and another one I can’t remember anymore (edit: it was “Whatever”). Yes I agree they were more engaging. Have not read Submission yet but I have it on my nightstand shelf next to a hardback reprint of The Camp of Saints(1); I’ll read them both as a double-feature.

(1) https://vaubanbooks.com/books/the_camp_of_the_saints_hardcover.php

Camp of the Saints is on my reading list too.

I actually really disliked Whatever. I found it be a worse version of The Elementary Particles.

Same, I read Whatever right after reading The Elementary Particles, which I really enjoyed, and it was so boring I haven't read any of his books since.

Every other one of his books I’ve read (submission, platform, annihilation) has been really good. Would recommend giving him more of a chance.

Whatever was his debut novel, and Elementary Particles was the refined second try. It makes total sense that one is a worse version of the other.

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