Nick's review
Vintage Satire: Gulliver's Travels/Atomised by Michel Houellebecq
An insightful and very individual novel from French writer Michel Houllebeq who melds advanced genetics with the hippie movement to create a book which is much bigger in scope than you realise.
Tracking the (mis)fortunes of a pair of half-brothers growing up in late 20th century France we see how love, society, companionship and relationships can shape people's views of the world and lead to revolution in its truest sense.
So extreme are the characters that at times it can be difficult to identify with either of the brothers, but through their interactions with sub-characters you slowly come to understand their different plights.
Other than that though it was an interesting read which has rekindled my interest in philosophy and which delivers a quite fantastical ending, one which will leave you thinking about it for many days afterwards.
Tracking the (mis)fortunes of a pair of half-brothers growing up in late 20th century France we see how love, society, companionship and relationships can shape people's views of the world and lead to revolution in its truest sense.
So extreme are the characters that at times it can be difficult to identify with either of the brothers, but through their interactions with sub-characters you slowly come to understand their different plights.
Other than that though it was an interesting read which has rekindled my interest in philosophy and which delivers a quite fantastical ending, one which will leave you thinking about it for many days afterwards.
