(Drivebycuriosity) - Michel Houellebecq belongs to the most important contemporary philosophers and novel writers in France, maybe of the world.Houellebecq`s texts are precise and analytical; he performs literary autopsies - and he likes to provoke. After enjoying the master`s recent books, I took a look on the beginning of his career and read "Whatever", his first novel (first published 1994 amazon).
Houellebecq`s debut gives already a taste of his qualities. Like later works the plot is told in first person, by a man who is pathetic & obnoxious, but also smart and has the gift of an analytical mind.
The novel is philosophical with a very pessimist undertone - as usual for Houellebecq. I am not too much impressed by the plot. But what makes me reading him again and again - and makes me a fan of him - are the author`s sharp wit and his analytical & precise musings about almost anything
For instance:
"Just like unrestrained economic liberalism, and for similar reasons, sexual liberalism produces phenomena of absolute pauperization. Some men make love every day; others five or six times in their life, or never. Some make love with dozens of women; others with none. It’s what’s known as ‘the law of the market’. In an economic system where unfair dismissal is prohibited, every person more or less manages to find their place. In a sexual system where adultery is prohibited, every person more or less manages to find their bed mate. In a totally liberal economic system certain people accumulate considerable fortunes; others stagnate in unemployment and misery. In a totally liberal sexual system certain people have a varied and exciting erotic life; others are reduced to masturbation and solitude2.
And: "The successive sexual experiences accumulated during adolescence undermine and rapidly destroy all possibility of projection of an emotional and romantic sort; progressively, and in fact extremely quickly, one becomes as capable of love as an old slag."
I wish, Houellebecq publishes more books.
No comments:
Post a Comment