This week, Thea Lenarduzzi and Lucy Dallas are joined by the critic Nelly Kaprièlian and the TLS’s French editor Russell Williams to discuss ‘Anéantir’, the latest novel by France’s best-known and maybe most controversial writer, Michel Houellebecq; the TLS’s Toby Lichtig talks us through a new memoir by the ‘pre-eminent author of British Jewish novels’, Howard Jacobson, and we consider a masterclass in sympathy from Anne Tyler, a tale of revenge by Japan’s ‘Queen of mysteries’, and a wartime reckoning in Finland.‘Anéantir’ by Michel Houellebecq‘Mother’s Boy: A writer’s beginnings’ by Howard Jacobson‘French Braid’ by Anne Tyler‘Lady Joker: Volume one’ by Kaoru Takamura, translated by Marie Iida and Allison Markin Powell  ‘Land of Snow & Ashes’ by Petra Rautiainen, translated by David HackstonProduced by Sophia Franklin See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.