'Whatever' by Michel Houellebecq is a short novel that delves into themes of manic depression, apathy, cynicism, and societal alienation. The unnamed narrator, a lonely computer programmer in Paris, navigates a world where he struggles to connect with others, indulges in self-destructive behaviors, and contemplates the emptiness of modern existence. Through a series of cynical and nihilistic observations, the protagonist explores the impact of sexual liberalism on society, highlighting the struggles and failures of individuals in a competitive and detached world.

Characters:

Characters, especially the unnamed narrator, display anti-social behavior and cynicism, often portraying failure and detachment in a competitive society.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is blunt, cynical, concise, and darkly humorous, mirroring the protagonist's disillusionment and detachment from life.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a lonely computer programmer facing mental decline amid societal sexual and material hierarchies, exploring themes of alienation and modern existential struggles.

Setting:

The setting is primarily 1990s Paris, focusing on nightlife and societal dynamics under capitalism and sexual liberalism.

Pacing:

The pacing is quick and concise, making it a short read, but some find it potentially tedious due to repetitive observations.

Friday evening I was invited to a party at a colleague from work’s house. There were thirty-odd of us, all middle management aged between twenty-five and forty. At a certain moment some stupid bitch s...

Notes:

The unnamed narrator lives in Paris and works as a computer programmer.

He feels lonely and disconnected from others, despite having a good job.

The original French title translates to 'Extension of the Domain of Struggle'.

The book explores themes of sexual economics, categorizing people into 'winners' and 'losers' based on sexual success.

The narrator believes society's sexual liberalism leads to a lack of genuine love and connection.

The story is told primarily through the narrator's cynical and pessimistic perspective.

There is very little dialogue and minimal character background provided.

The novel is structured more as a series of observations rather than a traditional plot.

Houellebecq portrays a bleak and critical view of human relationships and societal norms.

The book is seen as a precursor to incel culture, capturing themes of disillusionment in modern sexuality.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers and content warnings include depression, suicidal ideation, misogyny, nihilism, and existential angst.

From The Publisher:

Houellebecq captures precisely the cynical disillusionment of disaffected youth.-Booklist

This boy needs serious therapy. He may be beyond help.-The Washington Post

Just thirty, with a well-paid job, depression and no love life, the narrator and anti-hero par excellence of this grim, funny, and clever novel smokes four packs of cigarettes a day and writes weird animal stories in his spare time.

A painfully realistic portrayal of the vanishing freedom of a world governed by science and by the empty rituals of daily life.

Michel Houellebecq is a multi-award-winning French author. He currently lives in Spain.

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About the Author:

Novelist and poet Michel Houellebecq was born in 1958, on the French island of Reunion. At the age of six, Michel was given over to the care of his paternal grandmother, a communist, whose family name he later adopted. His literary career began when, at twenty, he started to move in poetic circles in France. Whatever, Houellebecq's first novel, has been translated into several languages. Houellebecq's second collection of poems, Le sens du combat (The Meaning of the Fight), obtained the Prix Flore in 1996. In 1998, he received the prestigious Grand Prix National des Lettres Jeunes Talents for his literary work. He has also won the Prix Novembre (for The Elementary Particles ). His first album, Presence humaine, was released in 2000. He currently lives in Ireland.

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Whatever

Michel Houellebecq