Houellebecq is a junior L.F. Céline. The latter sounded the cynical themes Houellebecq is still enacting, 75 years ago, and with far more energy and wit.
Houellebecq does have a certain fascination as a troll-like watchman at the funeral of the West in general, and France in particular, but what’s the point? Is holding a mirror to our decay and self-extinguishing culture anything other than the act of of a voyeuristic funeral home director?
Perhaps for those who have opted out of having families, “Serotonin” is the preferred reading — wherein loveless sex, loneliness and meaninglessness are put forth as the inevitable, unrelenting human condition.
But of course these things are not inevitable.
6
Well Dwight, there are 120,000 homeless children living in the greatest city in the world. What's there to be cheerful about?
The best and only antidote to the times in which we live--lying politicians, disgusting divergences in wealth, racism, ubiquitous pornography, unapologetic narcissism, indifference to cruelty--is honesty.
Escapism is cowardice. Better to immerse oneself in the destructive element.
Looking forward to Houellebecq's latest.
10
Seeing only 24 comments responding to the review, how little and how few this book will provoke seems evident.
2
It's a shame that Mr. Garner has chosen to shoot fish in a barrel by reviewing another of Houellebecq's vile books rather than shining the light on a far-more deserving novel, particularly one by a lesser known writer. Whose interests does a review like this serve, except to provide Mr. Garner more opportunity to demonstrate his biting style?
I read all of Houellebecq's novels and I agree with the reviewer that this is a minor one. His last great book was "La Carte et le Territoire" (sorry, I don't know the English title). Still, a new Houellebecq is an event because he does seem to know the way the wind blows, so to speak.
To me, he's very close to Flaubert: the same pessimistic view of his fellow humans, the same nihilistic view of life, the same hatred of consensual social clichés (what Flaubert called "les idées reçues"). Of course, Flaubert's style was far superior, which is probably why we'll still read Flaubert in a hundred years, whereas I doubt Houellebecq's work will survive him, just like writers like Anatole France and Maurice Barrès, huge bestsellers in their lifetime, are now almost completely forgotten.
8
@Michel Forest The English title is "The Map and the Territory". By far the most incisive novel I've read on subjects ranging from the contemporary art world; the disparities between labor and capital; the ethical conundrums of aging, illness and death; and which also includes a terrifically rendered police procedural surrounding a horrific murder. Saying more would spoil the page-turning surprises the novel delivers with both moving and mordant aplomb.
The current review of Houellebecq's latest fiction suspiciously fails to mention this 2010 Prix Goncourt winner which, contrary to your assertion, I believe will survive as long as there are readers of absorbing literature.
17
Absolutely CANNOT wait to get into this one. SUBMISSION wasn’t taken far enough; hopefully this one takes me, not just to the liquor cabinet but INSIDE it - for a week.
16
Over the years, I've managed to finish only two of Houellebeck's novels, and in spite of the grossness and violence, did enjoy them. The others, I was never able to finish, they made me feel queasy, uncomfortable and yes, dirty. He has some real filth in his head.
The French love to have a politically incorrect hero to cart out on TV or in other media - I'll always remember Serge Gainsbourg drunkenly burning a high-denomination franc-note on prime-time TV - and he had some rather incestuous observations about his daughter, just like someone else we all know about.... the difference, maybe, is that the French would never elect someone like that to the Elysée.... at least, I don't think they would.
3
It's like Nabakov meets Cioran! Should be a delightfully dreary novel. I'm in.
11
I’ve never heard of Houellebecq before this review, but he sounds exciting. Like a better Bret Easton Ellis, it’s refreshing to see a writer just go for it while thumbing their nose at our “wary climate,” as Dwight said, and the increasingly pasteurized literature of late. Perhaps you have to go to France to get a raw take?
I noticed “Submission” didn’t click to a link for a review. Have any of his others books been reviewed in the Times? While presciently predicting the Yellow Vests movement, this book sounds like one of his weaker offerings. What is Houellebecq’s best book?
3
@Tom
I recommend you (french titles because I'm french) : "plateforme", "la carte et le territoire" and his 2 firsts books : "extension du domaine de la lutte" & "les particules élémentaires". Everything about Houellebecq is in his 2 first books.
"plateforme" is the most prescient, imo.
1
@Tom
Check out "The Elementary Particles". It is brilliant.
3
His best books in my opinion is "Submission ". Another one from which I only know le French titel is " La possibilité d'une île " roughly translated :"The possibility of an island ". Houellebecq is one of the most appreciated novelists in Germany.
3
Plot, such as it is described here, reads very much like Gyula Krudy's "The Adventures of Sindbad" - dissipated lothario revisits past conquests, only in Krudy's world, the nostalgic main character sees the pity of his life.
2
Having read the book in French, I can only say one thing with absolute certainty : the choice of picture on the cover of the English edition is absurd!
19
Great review of a book I now have no need to read. Thank you Dwight.
16
On the basis of this review, I have no idea about whether or not to read the book. I also don't have any idea about the relative merits of its author, nor how he fits into his literary environment. I do have an idea about the virtuosity of the reviewer's literary style--a little like a movie most notable for its editing.
9
I can certainly understand why any reviewer would go to pains to describe the moral vacuum at the center of Houellebecq’s characters. But warning us off?
5
It's amusing but as I read this review, an engineer is laughing in the background. When excited and challenged, she rubs her hands enjoying her work, and took a pause asked if she was in need of an agricultural engineer. Then as a tease, I proposed the candidacy of 'Serotonin' for the above assignment, venturing that he was in need of a lift.
M. Labrouste does sound as if he is traversing a cruel middle-life crisis, and if he does not take his life, he may be granted safe passage into his golden years.
Energy, flamboyance, a certain defiance, are needed to succeed in the workplace, and one can always revisit old loves over a fine glass of wine.
But as long as the author, M. Houellebecq, is satisfied with his latest work that is all that matters, for not all writers are wild fiery blades like Balzac, and this new novel brings to mind the lovely sounds and strings of Verlaine's violins where all is joyful tristesse and filled with ennui.
6
I'm embarrassed to say I do not know this author. But as with all effective reviews -- I will now go seek him out. Thank you, Mr Garner.
2
Houellebecq is one of those writers that both sides completely misunderstand .
The Right ( and more shockingly the Roman Catholic hard right ) erroneously think he's one of their own
The Left pathetically sees Houellebecq as some kind of existential threat
Whereas the reality is ... Michel Houellebecq is the very epitome of French sarcasm and irony at its absolute finest who much like our Hunter S Thompson was ... holds to no boundaries other than his own
A reality the majority of non- French readers completely miss out on .
So a recommendation .. before reading his novels .. . in order to truly understand Houellebecq's works .. read his own words about them via the book ;
" Public Enemies : dueling writers take on each other and the world - by Michel Houellebecq and Bernard Henri Levy
Two writers/thinkers ( for those in the know Houellebecq is more philosopher than author ) who have more in common that either the Left or the Right is capable of comprehending
21
@TJ Martin both sides? You've missed the mark entirely, irony does not have a "side". And Houellebecq goes far beyond irony.
5
His superficiality is profound.
11
Ha. Oh, dear.
On one hand, however, this review is so well-written it actually makes me want to read the book.
5
In spite of Garner's review, this sure sounds like an entertaining read.
6
@bone setter entertaining might not be the word exactly. Start with some of his other novels maybe or you might not come back.
3
@Andy Haha.. so right .. He’s enough to put the WRONG person RIGHT off !
I read it when it came out in French because I'm a Houellebecq fan. Is this the English language release? OK. I do find it amusing the publisher chose an 18th century portrait to illustrate the cover because Houellebecq conjures Iggy Pop more than aristocracy for me (they've done a film together).
Reading Houellebecq'snovels is like picking a scab; you know you're doing yourself more harm than good but will you continue until it bleeds or will you put the book down?
Admittedly part of the humour comes knowing some people talk his trash talk seriously. Islamists claim he's anti muslim while and others just the opposite; one strain of feminists claim he's a misogyinist, when he's transparently a feminist himself, just not the self promoting kind. His characters are self deprecating caricatures of ennui. But none of his "anti" critics realise he's simultaneously making social commentary on the state of French society today because they're humourless drones incapable of an original thought much less expression of same.
But I admit at one point I couldn't stand the plot developments concerning one specific theme. I almost put down "Serotonin" myself and I'm fully aware that's the exact reaction he's trying to achieve. So there do seem to be limits even to Houellebecq's provocation and for me he's reached them. It isn't just his characters scraping the bottom of the barrel with "Serotonin".
12
I read it when it came out in French because I'm a Houellebecq fan. Is this the English language release? OK. I do find it amusing the publisher chose an 18th century portrait to illustrate the cover because Houellebecq conjures Iggy Pop more than aristocracy for me (they've done a film together).
Reading Houellebecq's novels is like picking a scab; you know you're doing yourself more harm than good but will you continue until it bleeds or will you put the book down?
Admittedly some of the joy in reading his novels comes from the dark humour at imagining the people taking his trash talk seriously squirm. Islamists claim he's anti muslim while and others just the opposite; one strain of feminists claim he's a misogyinist, when he's transparently a feminist himself, just not the self promoting kind. His characters are self deprecating caricatures of ennui. But none of his "anti" critics realise he's simultaneously making social commentary on the state of French society today and laughing at them because they're humourless drones incapable of an original thought much less expression of same.
But I admit at one point even I couldn't stand the plot developments concerning one specific theme. I almost put down "Serotonin" myself and I'm fully aware that's the exact reaction he's trying to achieve. So there do seem to be limits to Houellebecq's provocation and for me he's reached them with "Serotonin". It isn't just his characters scraping the bottom of the barrel.
3
@Andy: What, isn't Iggy Pop 18th Century enough? Violent, crude, erudite... that guy in the picture is bare-chested under his cravatte.
Of course, Houellebecq is played out, provocation is only as interesting as the ones you are setting out to provoke... or something...
If Hoeullebecq's characters keep coming around, so too will Mr. Garner. Feed them, please.
The book doesn't "echo" the gilets jaunes' protests so much as anticipate them; he's like France's DeLillo in that way. I've only read Submission and some bits of other writings, but this still seems like a rather blithe treatment of an author who is neither endlessly retreading WWII nor neurotically fixed on upper middle-class propriety -not to mention an excuse to deploy "scurillities."
5
@S.C. Hoellebecq recycles his work constantly. Have you read any?
3
Same old self indulgent tripe, different title. I ain’t no Houellebecq girl.
9
"It makes you wonder if he has played out his string as a fiction writer."
Ouch.
Cool cover tho!
1
Dwight, are you taking Michel Houellebecq too seriously? Me, I really like his mordant, even scabrous sense of humor.
22
@John Dietsch I've read all of Houellebecq's novels and like you, I too enjoy his sense of humour. Although I'd add a few other qualifiers, mordant and scabrous succinctly describe Houellebecq's work.
Before declaring your admiration for all things Houellebecq quite so unconditionally however, perhaps you should read Serotonin if you haven't already done so.
Regards.
3
@John Dietsch Mordant .. now there’s a word!
1
Do not think about it.
1