Author: Michel Houllebecq

Rating:8/10

Atomised is the story of two half brothers- Michel and Bruno, mothered by a new-age-addict hippie. It recounts in painfull detail the attainment, completion and destruction of adulthood in modern society. Though, Houllebecq writes in detail about the characters, the focus lies on the society that the brothers live in- late 20th century France. The book is reflective and critical of the times we live in. It is written in the form of a research into the lives of these characters sometime in the 2010’s.

The book begins with a prologue that talks about “metaphysical mutations”. Metaphysical Mutations occur every once in a while when a new world order rises that challenges and replaces social and civilizational rules. The rise of Christianity and the subsequent defeat of it by science are cited as examples. The author thus provides a setup for the book foretelling the next metaphysical mutation.

Bruno lives a life of frustrated sexuality whose trysts with the feminine occurs only in fantasies and whore houses. His life involved being raised by a grand-mother and a brutal boarding school experience. The result is a man who is both doubtfull about himself (the fact that he wanted to be write but becomes a teacher) and weary of the society he live in. This is until he meets Christiane at a new-age commune. They fall in love and her subsequent death causes Bruno to be disillusioned and he spends the rest of his life in a psychiatric institution. His story is a reference to this post-modern society which promotes individualism over community, sexuality over love, gender over the singularity of species.

Bruno’s life story is countered by that of Michel’s, his half brother. Michel is a biologist who’s background is physics. He cannot love, the feeling is alien to him. Sharing a similar childhood to his brother but unware that a half-brother exists, Michel is a prodigy since childhood. He never felt any semblance of love for Annabelle, who loves him and leaves due to his indifference. What follows is his struggle to reconcile his knowledge of physics, biology and jaded love life into a singular theory. The plot does bring Annabelle into his life again but she is withering. It is only in the final days of Annabelle’s life that Michel sees her truly for what she is and how much of a part of his life and memory she has become. He cannot yet love her but her absence leaves a huge mark on him. Inspired by Comte, Kant and early philosophy, along with his previous research into molecular biology and with the help of supercomputers in a research facility in Ireland, he brings forth the next metaphysical mutation. He creates the framework for immortal humans who can be created artificially. Hence sexuality, legacy and social barriers are eliminated eventually.

The book is not so much about plot, its about philosophy. The characterization only serves to bring forth archetypes of a society existing purely for the purpose of seemingly promoting individuality but suppressing it if considered a hindrance to social rules. By terminating this artificial existentialist society, Houllebecq creates a vision of Utopia. Everything is Atomised. His ideal world is where everyone is an individual but part of a collective identity. There is a no conflict when there is no difference. Atomised existence. The novel is an updation of Nietsche’s discourses on the Superman. As a book, it is layered and rewards reflection with more points to ponder.

Review by: bApHoMEt

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This is a book I bought 5 months back and read once just before I came to Hyderabad. I was in too much of a hurry back then but I did realise that this was one of those books that deserved a second read and boy was I right!

The last few books I read have had drugs and addiction as a/the major plot line and this one’s no different. Dwight Wilmerding is a 28 year old working a politically incorrect (?) job as a tech support for Pfizer (think Viagra). He lives a few blocks away from Ground Zero in New York along with a bunch of quirky room mates and has a pretty dysfunctional family to boot. Divorced parents and a psychologist/left wing sister.

He suffers from chronic indecision (Abulia) and he apparently has a tough time living life because at every turn he is met with tough decisions . So he decides to try out an experimental drug, Abulinix that supposedly cures this. The drug makes him ‘decide’ to go to Ecquador to meet a long lost friend. Advenures, love and self discovery ensue.

Now this book had gotten a lot of great early reviews but the latter ones weren’t all that great and I think this is simply because the author, Benjamin Kunkel is way too smart (and witty) for his own good! Loved the philosophical conversations and drug induced (Weed, Ecstacy and ‘San Pedro’) ramblings, some of which are pretty profound. The ending was pretty much of a disappntment as everything tended towards politics and the exploitation of Third World Nations.

The first half of the book made this one of my all time favourites! 8/10 Dark Humor at it’s best!

The author , The Prestidigitator also writes on his personal blog. http://www.ontheverge.wordpress.com

“A second is no more than a second. A minute is no more than a minute. A day is no more than a day. They pass. All things and all time will pass. Don’t force or fear, don’t control or lose control. Don’t fight and don’t stop fighting. Embrace and endure. If you embrace then you will endure.”

                                                        —A Million Little Pieces

A Million Little Pieces is a ’semi-fictional’ memoir written by James Frey, a self confessed addict and criminal as he goes through rehabilitation in a Twelve Steps centre. The center believes that an addict can overcome his addiction only if he treats it as a disease and if he believes in a Higher Power or God. Problem is the author is adamant about his disbelief in God.

The story does not take you to that point where the protagonist comes to terms with his faith or lack of it; it is about owning up for one’s actions and taking the blame no matter how hard it is.

This is hands down the grittiest and most cringe inducing book I’ve ever read. I actually skipped through two pages of graphic detail where the author pulls out his toe nail out. This is definetly not a book for the faint of heart. It’s not just the intensity of the book,  the language is pretty down and dirty too.

All that said, this is also one of the best books I’ve read. I rate this over Shantaram as the emotions here are a lot more real and most of the stuff said here does not glorify the writer in any way, it only makes him human.

It’s a sort of coming of age story of a 23 year old addict who comes to grips with what family, friendship and love truly mean. The writing style is something I really loved. It truly captures the intensity of the plight.

All in all 8.5/10. Great great stuff!

PS As for the controversies, you can’t make a great story without exxagerating it now….can you?

I shall refrain from degrading this book by actually reviewing it. This is perhaps one of the most important books I’ve read all my life. One of those few books that I connneceted with on a deeper level (I don’t normally sound like this) and definetly one of those books that depressed me.

Yossarin (the protagonist) will forever go down in history as the ultimate anti establishement hero. The story follows this WWI fighter pilot’s attempts to get grounded because he sees that the war is simply absurd and that people he hasn’t even met are trying to kill him. However he can’t get grounded because of Catch 22.

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one’s safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn’t, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn’t have to; but if he didn’t want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.

“That’s some catch, that Catch-22,” he [Yossarian] observed.

“It’s the best there is,” Doc Daneeka agreed.

 The main theme of the book is the absurdity of living one’s life according to the rules and philosophies laid down by society, governement, friends, love and family. Yossarin is a dangerously sane man in a clearly insane world.

The writing is simply superb and each line is clever and reeks of black humor at it’s best.

I just regret the fact that I got to read this so late. Along with Catcher in the Rye, this is one of my favourite contemprory classics.

Anything worth living for is worth dying for.

Anything worth dying for is worth living for.

It took me a long time and most of the world to learn what I know about love and fate and the choices we make, but the heart of it came to me in an instant, while I was chained to a wall and being tortured. I realised, somehow through the screaming in my mind that even in shackled, bloody helplessness, I was still free:free to hate the men who were torturing me or free to forgive them. It doesn’t sound like much I know. But in the flinch and bite of chain, when it’s all you’ve got, that freedom is a universe of posibility. And the choice you make between hating and forgiving can become the story of your life.

Any book that begins like that can’t go wrong can it? And it doesn’t , for most part.

Shanataram is supposedly an autobiographical novel by Gregory Roberts, an Australian fugitive who lands in aamchi Mumbai and begins life anew. It’s perhaps one of the longest (930 odd pages) and most inspiring books I’ve ever read. But I did find it hard to digest many things in the book simply because it seemed a little too incredible and hence I doubt it works as an autobiography, but as a novel, I’m sure it will blow most people away.

The story follows the adventures of Shantaram/Gregory Roberts/Lindsay/Linbaba (he’s known by a lotta names you see) once he comes to Bombay. He falls in love with a woman named Karla (who happens to be my dream mate), starts a free clinic in a slum, does work for the mafia, gets involved in a murder, earns the hatred of a certain Madame Zhou who runs a huge prostitution racket, learns about life from an underworld don, does bit parts in Bollywood flicks and then fights the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan! Now you know why the book is so huge!!!

The writing is simply superb. His observations on Indians and the rich cultural heritage is amzing, more so as it comes from a foreigner. He goes on to say that India is truly the land where the heart is king! The book has also inspired me to visit Bombay soon (heard it’s only 12 hours from Hyderabad!).

Incidentally, Johnny Depp has bought rights to the book and a movie is in pre production but a direcor hasn’t been finalised. Peter Weir has reprtedly dropped out. Given the masala, the book is definetly superb movie material!

On the whole, the book merits a 7.5/10 only because it gets unnecessarily mushy at times and he raves on pointlessely about love!

My favourite line among numerous others: Every human heartbeat is a universe of possibilities.