Sex, EU-Bashing, and lots and lots of alcohol: Michel Houellebecq remains his theme in his new novel, faithful. But it goes in "Serotonin".
Are you a smoker? Then you know how it is, if the nicotine in a matter of seconds – BAM! – to the receptors in the brain squats. "A simple and hard drug," "Serotonin", "which is entirely determined by the defect and the Park of the defect". It may be the "perfect drug" for the body, it is unworkable, however, for the salvation of Florent-Claude, the narrator in Michel Houellebecqs new novel. A lack of runs through the life of the 46-Year-old. Not economically, but emotionally, socially, and Yes, even spiritually.
Florent-Claude swallows an antidepressant, to everyday Florent-Claude takes suitable to be
To the "unbearable Emptiness", an antidepressant medication that regulates Serotonin levels. Although he is suitable for everyday use, but the Libido goes and makes the impotence of space. It is not to betray too much, when you noted that the "small, white, oval, scored tablet" brakes, but nothing prevents. At the end the Protagonist will be in a state, "in which the aging, the dying and from death is recorded probe to the bottom Tier is a warehouse, to decide for his life".
Houellebecq remains in "Serotonin" his literary main theme of loyalty. Florent-Claude is Variation and revenant about Michel from "elementary particles" (1998), or the name I-narrator in "expansion of the combat zone", the debut Novel of the author, 1994. On 7. January appears to be "Serotonin" in us; in France the delivery has been brought forward to Friday. Because this Monday is the day of the Islamist attack on the editorial offices of "Charlie Hebdo marks the fourth Time". On 7. January 2015 appeared also in "submission". In this bitter vision of the future Houellebecq tells how the Elite of his home files too happy in a Muslim-ruled France. Money and polygamy are arguments enough.
+ In France Serotonin "appeared" on 4. January.©AFP / THOMAS SAMSONIn his seventh novel, the writer now returns to the Suffering of the Individual. "Serotonin" is the Swan song of an aging white man. Without parents, love, God, Florent-Claude can't stand "the complexity of the world (...) plain". So far, So Houellebecq. Especially in the first third of the 60 unfolds-Year-old a Panorama familiar to his readers: hypnotized to be A gutgeformter ass, Breasts barely covered. Women? Are "Sluts", except mom and Camille, the love of the protagonist, which he squandered with a fling. The EU? An "old bitch". Dutch? You guessed it. There is a nudist colony, a little Porn, a little bit politically Objectionable (praise for Franco), sodomy (grotesque), pedophilia (barely bearable). In short, Houellebecq here opens his literary Toolbox: Look, I'm working on.
Mercedes G 350 is the last safety of the main character
Then he pushes forward to the Actual. Florent-Claude disappears from his life, quits his Job in the Ministry of agriculture, leaves the beloved (a "bitch", what else?). We follow him in the Mercedes G 350 in the province, is also a Topos in the work of the French. The all-terrain vehicle – a Diesel, of course, the narrator hates environmental awareness, as well as globalization, liberalism, the EU is a last security. It was built in the nineties, when the nation state was still strong, and Brussels is weak. A Fossil today, car as driver, and, most recently, the car is in the underground garage of a tall building. "Sad end", "deprivation of liberty"...
It seems that Houellebecq takes the "yellow West" anticipates,
In Normandy meets Florent-Claude a friend. In the example of this Aymeric Houellebecq tells of the struggle for Survival of the dairy farmers, the counter and slipping in the European competition. With Aymeric, the author creates but also the counter-proposal to his protagonist. This man, "ready", built with colleagues barricades on the highway. It is to be here taken of the protests of the "Gilets jaunes" in advance. The "yellow West" increases in occupy since November, the streets of France to Protest against proposed tax. While Aymeric is looking for salvation, in fact, self-determined to the end, remains Florent-Claude observer.
Deep purple's "Child in Time"
Why should he save a "vanquished old man"? Not only politically, but also private Houellebecq makes his figure on the edge: The visit to Ex-Lover only confirms that which is also bad. In the case of Camille, he dares not even the contact, neither in Good nor in Evil. Houellebecq writes concise, microscopically. As always, he observed carefully and complemented his long sentences like a Detail, still an explanation. Who engages in the style, pleasure. Sometimes flashes in "Serotonin" laconic humour – for example, if the technical aspects of the Blowjobs is imbued with Latin twists. We also read, however, the tender portrait of unconditional, what: sacred, love between Florent-Claude's parents, and the great Episode about a Live recording of Deep purple's "Child in Time". So much music is rare in the contemporary literature. This Song recommends the sinner: "Bow your Head/ wait for the ricochet". Tilt the head wait for the ricochet. Houellebecqs "child of time" it's just – "until nothing prevents slipping". And that is profoundly sad.
book information:
Michel Houellebecq: "Serotonin". From the French by Stephan Small. Dumont, Cologne, 336 Pages; 24 Euro.
Date Of Update: 13 January 2019, 00:04
