The Elementary Particles

Well, I'm really conflicted about this book. Taken as whole, and once you do get to the end, it does make some sort of internal sense - you can definitely see what Houellebecq was aiming for in writing what is (spoiler alert) basically a chronicle of how humanity brings its demise in favor of creating a race of eternal, asexual, single-gendered cloned humanoids; who are the narrators of this book. So I guess you could see setting that goal and sticking to that logic sort of a qualified success. But hermetic internal logic or not, what makes up about 80% of this book is very close to unreadable.: the endless, mechanical, joyless sexual act descriptions ; the cardboard-cutout characters which spout phrases that no human has ever said to another; the basic lack of any careful plotting, with situations that are only placeholders for characters to wax philosophical; the blatant societal and metaphysical overreaches and simplifications. And overall there's the dull, droning, icy language that goes on and on and on.. If all that sounds like your idea of a great novel go ahead. But to me, it just felt flat and failed.

Well, first off I read this book over a period of 24 hours. It's addicting, easy to read, and entertaining. Second off, it's a great novel. There is a plot, the characters are there, and despite some weaker moments, it generally flows well. The most important thing I think, is to note that this is an emotional book, which does portray a specific feeling. I believe the hype of "nihilism," "brutality," etc - to be somewhat overwrought. These things do exist, very much so, in this book. However, in the end the main point becomes much more poignant because of them, the positivity enriched, etc. There may not be many who can see that.

Most reviews read like elementary school summaries. The brothers in this novel are the concise distillation of those three Russian brothers we all loved to hate a hundred fifty years ago. Their conversations are on par with Ivan and Alyosha's in the chapter "The Grand Inquisitor". If you can't see this than wait a hundred years and if you're capable you'll get it by then... ...