The Elementary Particles by Michel Houellebecq

I believe I came across the name Michel Houellebecq in a book review somewhere, but it wasn't even M. Houellebecq's book the reviewer was talking about, so it's somewhat of a mystery how I ended up with this novel.

The book was apparently highly popular in France. I read the English translation, of course. Unless a great deal was lost in the translation process, which I don't think is the case, I yet again find the French incomprehensible. Put it simply, this is the most unpleasant book I've ever read in my life. Repetitive pornographic descriptions of sex and violence take up most of the book. Three female characters in the story end up committing suicide and we are supposed to think this is what happens to all women: loss of youth and beauty leads to disease and death by one's own hand. What is the point of the Bruno character? Or Michel? Or the whole book? I see printed on the jacket glowing praises, and I say to myself, It's the Emperor's New Clothes again. There are no ideas here, only total nonsense.

Well, I felt somewhat vindicated when I read later that M. Houellebecq had spent time in a mental institution. Hey, the dude is crazy! I knew it! There were also two negative reviews of the book in the New York Times. Now, it is not impossible that someone boring like me can never understand how twisted or messed up some people are, especially if they are a product of the '60s. But this book, far from providing analysis, is a piece of junk.