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Corps désirable
C’est un sujet fascinant dont s’empare ici Hubert Haddad. Un célèbre neurochirurgien s’apprêterait à effectuer une greffe inouïe : transplanter la tête d’un homme sur le corps d’un autre…
Journaliste engagé, en lutte ouverte contre les trusts pharmaceutiques et les mafias de la finance, Cédric Allyn-Weberson vit avec Lorna une passion entière, charnelle, amoureuse. Jusqu’au jour où il se trouve confronté à une violence radicale, celle de perdre accidentellement l’usage de son corps. Se met alors en branle une machine infernale.
Roman au suspense continu, Corps désirable captive par la magie d’une écriture lumineuse qui donne à éprouver intimement les sensations les plus subtiles des personnages – questions lancinantes de l’amour, de l’incarnation du désir et des illusions de l’identité.
Face aux questions éthiques et existentielles soulevées par une actualité brûlante, entre extravagances de la science et quête d’identité, Hubert Haddad pousse la fiction-vérité dans ses ultimes retranchements.
Journaliste engagé, en lutte ouverte contre les trusts pharmaceutiques et les mafias de la finance, Cédric Allyn-Weberson vit avec Lorna une passion entière, charnelle, amoureuse. Jusqu’au jour où il se trouve confronté à une violence radicale, celle de perdre accidentellement l’usage de son corps. Se met alors en branle une machine infernale.
Roman au suspense continu, Corps désirable captive par la magie d’une écriture lumineuse qui donne à éprouver intimement les sensations les plus subtiles des personnages – questions lancinantes de l’amour, de l’incarnation du désir et des illusions de l’identité.
Face aux questions éthiques et existentielles soulevées par une actualité brûlante, entre extravagances de la science et quête d’identité, Hubert Haddad pousse la fiction-vérité dans ses ultimes retranchements.
176 pages, Pocket Book
Published August 30, 2018
6 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Hubert Haddad
137 books25 followersHubert Abraham Haddad est né à Tunis le 10 mars 1947, d'un père tunisien d'origine judéo-berbère et d'une mère d'origine algérienne, née Guedj. Après avoir vécu à Sfax, Bône et Tunis, ses parents émigrent à Paris en 1950. Écrivain, Hubert Haddad commence à publier à la fin des années soixante, d'abord dans des revues. Il fonde lui-même plusieurs revues de littérature, comme Le Point d'Être, revue littéraire, ou Le Horla. Très vite, il investit tous les genres littéraires, à commencer par la poésie avec Le Charnier déductif (Debresse, 1968). La nouvelle et le roman tiennent la plus grande part de sa production, avec d'un côté les Nouvelles du jour et de la nuit (deux coffrets de cinq volumes chacun rassemblant soixante nouvelles) et de l'autre une vingtaine de romans comme L'Univers, premier roman-dictionnaire paru en 1999 chez Zulma et réédité en édition augmentée en 1999, ou encore Palestine (Prix des cinq continents de la francophonie 2008, Prix Renaudot Poche 2009). Par ailleurs dramaturge et historien d'art, Hubert Haddad est aussi peintre (expositions à Paris, Chaumont en Champagne, Châlons, Orléans, Marrakech) et à l'occasion illustrateur. Il a publié de nombreux essais, comme Saintes-Beuveries (José Crti, 1989), Les Scaphandriers de la rosée (Fayard, 2002), ainsi qu'une somme encyclopédique en deux volumes sur la passion littéraire et les techniques d'écriture : Le Nouveau Magasin d'écriture (2006) et Le Nouveau Nouveau Magasin d'écriture (2007). Sous le pseudonyme de Hugo Horst, il anime depuis 1983 la collection de poésie Double Hache aux éditions Bernard Dumerchez. Il publie aussi des romans noirs, avec un personnage récurrent, l'inspecteur Luce Schlomo (Tango chinois). Hubert Haddad est un des acteurs de la Nouvelle fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 9, 2020
This has some really rewarding parts, some clever ideas, but it’s not consistent, more than once I was confused as to where it was heading. Though the ending is predictable, it comes with an additional twist, which makes it the best part of the book.
Cedric Erg is a journalist who dislikes pharmaceutical companies, long estranged from his billionaire father who owns one. Chasing romance, he suffers a serious accident on a boating holiday in Greece, his spinal cord severed, but his father pushes for a transplant operation that seems impossible and out of a Shelley novel..
Haddad skilfully avoids issues of brain surgery and tries to focus on ethical issues. It has its moments, he stays clear of the expected conventions of a horror story, and injects humour at the right levels, but ultimately I thought it needed something else to make stand out; it was pretty much as I expected, and interesting premise.
Cedric Erg is a journalist who dislikes pharmaceutical companies, long estranged from his billionaire father who owns one. Chasing romance, he suffers a serious accident on a boating holiday in Greece, his spinal cord severed, but his father pushes for a transplant operation that seems impossible and out of a Shelley novel..
Haddad skilfully avoids issues of brain surgery and tries to focus on ethical issues. It has its moments, he stays clear of the expected conventions of a horror story, and injects humour at the right levels, but ultimately I thought it needed something else to make stand out; it was pretty much as I expected, and interesting premise.
April 4, 2022
kind of funny and fun and ...different but to be honest i only finished it because reading in full seemed easier than figuring out how to remove it from goodreads once it was "in progress"
i learned several good words such as "indurated" and "gonfalon"
i learned several good words such as "indurated" and "gonfalon"
June 26, 2020
A modern Frankenstein tale with a mind-body twist and appropriately penned by a French author, as if the ghost of Descartes hovers over the book. When the rich son of a pharmaceutical magnet is paralyzed in an accident, his head is transplanted on the body of a recently deceased motorcycle victim. What the body seems to know the mind doesn't, or maybe it's the other way around. At any rate, the dichotomy of the two create a work that is philosophically acute without pedantry. The fusion of a different mind and body is echoed in the confusing miasma of media, social media, and the future shock that accompanies the bold and morally suspect operation. While short and not providing the heft of a larger, more inclusive book, this is still an interesting and unsettling read.
June 23, 2018
The overriding state a reader is bound to experience with this book is confusion. However, don't let that deter you because if it does, then the author has succeeded in making you understand the woes of Cedric in his quest to be at peace with both his body and mind. I mean, isn't that what most of us go through? The quest to belong, to be at peace with body, mind, soul and some even unplug from the internet, travel to India, or pick up a minimalist lifestyle, just to name a few?
This book introduces us to Cedric, but first, we meet him as Cedric Erg, the Journalist who does not like pharmaceutical companies. He detests them so much that he doesn't mind writing or investigating about their evil ways. Then while at sea, he gets into an accident and is paralyzed from the neck down and we meet Cedric Allyn-Weberson, the son, and sole heir to the billionaire who owns a pharmaceutical company. The events that follow deal pretty much with whether Cedric will live or not and when Daddy swoops in, you bet, he's going to demand the best for his son. (Can I just say that I loved the irony here?)
It's the first book by Haddad that I'm reading and though it's a translation, I'd say that I felt like I had a moment or two where I did empathize with Cedric. I did volunteer to read this book off NetGalley, because I was curious to see where it would lead me. I'll say that if you're a Wanderer, I'll leave it to you to decide.
This book introduces us to Cedric, but first, we meet him as Cedric Erg, the Journalist who does not like pharmaceutical companies. He detests them so much that he doesn't mind writing or investigating about their evil ways. Then while at sea, he gets into an accident and is paralyzed from the neck down and we meet Cedric Allyn-Weberson, the son, and sole heir to the billionaire who owns a pharmaceutical company. The events that follow deal pretty much with whether Cedric will live or not and when Daddy swoops in, you bet, he's going to demand the best for his son. (Can I just say that I loved the irony here?)
It's the first book by Haddad that I'm reading and though it's a translation, I'd say that I felt like I had a moment or two where I did empathize with Cedric. I did volunteer to read this book off NetGalley, because I was curious to see where it would lead me. I'll say that if you're a Wanderer, I'll leave it to you to decide.
November 2, 2018
Ideas. Ideas. Lots of ideas. Interesting ones, too.
But that's really as far as it goes. The writing (in translation) was bland, despite an occasional great sentence or two. The characters were bland, which may have been intentional.
All in all, a book that sounds a lot more interesting than it is.
But that's really as far as it goes. The writing (in translation) was bland, despite an occasional great sentence or two. The characters were bland, which may have been intentional.
All in all, a book that sounds a lot more interesting than it is.
July 11, 2018
* I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book. *
Desirable Body is a novel about the first ever full body transplant. Investigative journalist Cedric Erg suffers a horrific boat accident that leaves him dead from the neck down. His estranged father intervenes and arranges for an experimental transplant to be conducted, grafting his son's head onto the body of a brain-dead man.
The operation seems successful, but Cedric finds himself in a tussle with his own body; will his brain be able to take control of all of these foreign organs? He also finds himself facing existential questions, such as the fact that any children he has will have the donor's genes, not his. What does it mean to live like this?
There is potential for a really great novel in this idea, but I'm afraid that Haddad doesn't get there. His approach is a bit lightweight and even silly, with many unexplored and underdeveloped plot lines and a clumsy resolution.
Desirable Body is a novel about the first ever full body transplant. Investigative journalist Cedric Erg suffers a horrific boat accident that leaves him dead from the neck down. His estranged father intervenes and arranges for an experimental transplant to be conducted, grafting his son's head onto the body of a brain-dead man.
The operation seems successful, but Cedric finds himself in a tussle with his own body; will his brain be able to take control of all of these foreign organs? He also finds himself facing existential questions, such as the fact that any children he has will have the donor's genes, not his. What does it mean to live like this?
There is potential for a really great novel in this idea, but I'm afraid that Haddad doesn't get there. His approach is a bit lightweight and even silly, with many unexplored and underdeveloped plot lines and a clumsy resolution.
October 8, 2022
I don't know the actual Frankenstein novel well enough to say how much this is a successful homage to or evolution of that. I can say it's an interesting idea thoroughly pursued. Maybe at points too thoroughly. The same ground seems to be tread over and over in (what felt to me) like a verrrry French narrative style. The last tenth of the novel introduces a newer concept that I wished had been introduced earlier for greater exploration (both the mob stuff and the other guy's lover stuff feel like the makings of a pretty good film adaptation.) Final analysis: glad I read it; wouldn't trip over myself to recommend it to anyone.
July 15, 2020
This is unreal, and I do believe, though the translation is very good, that there are some things culturally lost in translation. This is a small book that moves quickly but still requires a lot of engagement from the reader.
January 27, 2019
2.75 stars
Read
June 17, 2019Devoid of the life one tends to seek in fiction
October 8, 2019
Bizarre though it may be, a very well written story.
April 2, 2020
An interesting idea executed terribly. Bare bones plot lines and characters, fascinating stuff that is mentioned but never expanded on, and a really bad final fifty pages.
May 14, 2020
About the first full body transplant. Honestly not too exciting just 200+ of the main character adjusting to his transplant
April 24, 2025
nul! franchement je m’attendais à mieux hein ! ne lisez pas
October 1, 2025
Interesting concept and a quick read
August 5, 2020
Desirable Body was described as a modern-day Frankenstein story. It turned out to be much more than that.
In Desirable Body, Haddad tells us the story of Cédric Erg, an heir to a Big Pharma empire who has left it all behind to fight big corporate interest in his newspaper column. He’s in love with Lorna, a war journalist, but their love affair is interrupted by a terrible accident. To save his life, he must go through an experimental transplant surgery that will leave him battling to still find himself in his new body.
It is hilarious, entertaining and full of action. It is a fun read, with a deeper message about what makes us who we are and body dysmorphia without being preachy, heavy or overtly literary. I totally recommend. I’ll be reading another Haddad very soon, for sure.
In Desirable Body, Haddad tells us the story of Cédric Erg, an heir to a Big Pharma empire who has left it all behind to fight big corporate interest in his newspaper column. He’s in love with Lorna, a war journalist, but their love affair is interrupted by a terrible accident. To save his life, he must go through an experimental transplant surgery that will leave him battling to still find himself in his new body.
It is hilarious, entertaining and full of action. It is a fun read, with a deeper message about what makes us who we are and body dysmorphia without being preachy, heavy or overtly literary. I totally recommend. I’ll be reading another Haddad very soon, for sure.
May 1, 2025
4.5/5 (bumped to 5 stars--Strong 4 almost 5 (so I'd say a weak-ish 5)
Review in French below after the english one.
This is my second time reading Corps désirable now. I picked it up in 2023-ish (I think?) after listening to a job talk at my alma mater during my last semester of class because I was double majoring in French and Anthropology. I was absolutely floored by the professor’s synopsis of the book and immediately picked up a copy and read it. Tackling the ethics of a full-body transplant which does seem both improbable and probable at the same time (don’t look at me—I’m not a STEM guy), our dear protagonist and accidental nepo-baby Cédric Allyn-Weberson who rather questionably becomes a “graft” (I rather like the word play of «greffon»/”graft” and “griffon” as a bilingual reader and do wonder if that was intentional on Haddad’s part). Damn, imagine your girl breaks up with you and then you get your shit rocked by a sail—next thing you know your dad’s signed you up for a full-body transplant. All of this book captured my attention, how it’s written like an old-timey detective novel in the 21st century, to the ending . Just chef’s kiss.
This funny little book popped in my head while playing Cyberpunk 2077, which like Corps désirable, I absolutely loved. So I’d say it makes a media double-feature of that pairing. Probably won’t be the first nor last time I reread this book.
——
Revue de livre en français.
Ce temps-là, c’est le deuxième que je lis Corps désirable. J’achète ce livre en 2023 (peut-être?) Après, j’attends un entretien d'embauche dans mon alma mater dans le dernier semestre parce que j’avais une double spécialisation avec le français et l’anthropologie. J’étais désorienté par la synopsis de la professeure et immédiatement j’achèterais ce texte. S'attaquant à l'éthique d'une greffe du corps entier qui semble à la fois improbable et probable (ne me regardez pas, je ne suis pas un spécialiste des STEM), notre cher protagoniste et bébé-népo accidentel Cédric Allyn-Weberson qui devient de manière assez discutable un « greffon » (J’aime le jeu des mots de Haddad avec «greffon»/"graft” et “griffon” à cause de ma bilinguisme— je demanderais ce jeu de mots-là était intentionnelle à la part d’Haddad). Putain, j’imagine que sa copine se séparée de toi et soudainement t’étais rendu tétraquarplégique par une voile, tu te réveilles et ton père t'a inscrit pour une greffe du corps entier. Tout ce livre m'intéresse, comme ça écrit comme un roman policier à l'ancienne du 21e siècle jusqu'à la fin . Juste le « chef’s kiss.» Ce petit livre amusant m'est venu à l'esprit en jouant au jeu de vidéo Cyberpunk 2077, que j'ai adoré, tout comme Corps désirable. Je dirais donc que ce duo est un véritable duo multimédia. Ce ne sera probablement pas la première ni la dernière fois que je le relirai.
Review in French below after the english one.
This is my second time reading Corps désirable now. I picked it up in 2023-ish (I think?) after listening to a job talk at my alma mater during my last semester of class because I was double majoring in French and Anthropology. I was absolutely floored by the professor’s synopsis of the book and immediately picked up a copy and read it. Tackling the ethics of a full-body transplant which does seem both improbable and probable at the same time (don’t look at me—I’m not a STEM guy), our dear protagonist and accidental nepo-baby Cédric Allyn-Weberson who rather questionably becomes a “graft” (I rather like the word play of «greffon»/”graft” and “griffon” as a bilingual reader and do wonder if that was intentional on Haddad’s part). Damn, imagine your girl breaks up with you and then you get your shit rocked by a sail—next thing you know your dad’s signed you up for a full-body transplant. All of this book captured my attention, how it’s written like an old-timey detective novel in the 21st century, to the ending . Just chef’s kiss.
This funny little book popped in my head while playing Cyberpunk 2077, which like Corps désirable, I absolutely loved. So I’d say it makes a media double-feature of that pairing. Probably won’t be the first nor last time I reread this book.
——
Revue de livre en français.
Ce temps-là, c’est le deuxième que je lis Corps désirable. J’achète ce livre en 2023 (peut-être?) Après, j’attends un entretien d'embauche dans mon alma mater dans le dernier semestre parce que j’avais une double spécialisation avec le français et l’anthropologie. J’étais désorienté par la synopsis de la professeure et immédiatement j’achèterais ce texte. S'attaquant à l'éthique d'une greffe du corps entier qui semble à la fois improbable et probable (ne me regardez pas, je ne suis pas un spécialiste des STEM), notre cher protagoniste et bébé-népo accidentel Cédric Allyn-Weberson qui devient de manière assez discutable un « greffon » (J’aime le jeu des mots de Haddad avec «greffon»/"graft” et “griffon” à cause de ma bilinguisme— je demanderais ce jeu de mots-là était intentionnelle à la part d’Haddad). Putain, j’imagine que sa copine se séparée de toi et soudainement t’étais rendu tétraquarplégique par une voile, tu te réveilles et ton père t'a inscrit pour une greffe du corps entier. Tout ce livre m'intéresse, comme ça écrit comme un roman policier à l'ancienne du 21e siècle jusqu'à la fin . Juste le « chef’s kiss.» Ce petit livre amusant m'est venu à l'esprit en jouant au jeu de vidéo Cyberpunk 2077, que j'ai adoré, tout comme Corps désirable. Je dirais donc que ce duo est un véritable duo multimédia. Ce ne sera probablement pas la première ni la dernière fois que je le relirai.
August 20, 2018
This book has a fantastic density of descriptions and big words to describe simple things with style.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.
November 27, 2015
Petit roman étonnant, Corps désirable nous questionne sur l'identité. Le personnage principal perd l'usage de son corps dans un accident. Il sera le premier à expérimenter la greffe de tête... Stylisé, sensuel, ce roman nous questionne sur notre perception de nous-mêmes et sur la perception de ceux qui nous entourent: sommes-nous notre esprit? Notre corps? Les deux à la fois?
May 20, 2025
trop bizarre
kindle
August 23, 2018I had high hopes for this one, but just couldn't get into it. I don't know if the premise was too far out there for me or if it was something else. I will give it 3 stars because the writing was good, I just didn't enjoy the storyline as much as I thought I would.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews