Atomised - Michel Houellebecq

The story of two brothers, both antisocial in their own ways. One is a scientist who is the leader in their field, and the other is a serial sex offending teacher. This caused a storm in the late nineties when it was released, receiving high praise whilst also causing controversy and getting banned in one or two countries.

I'll admit I hadn't heard of this book when I decided to read it. I was only 6 in 1998 when it was released, and apparently it became an international phenomenon. I've dug around online and found a couple of reviews which sings the books praises, and some which say it is misogynistic pornography. I guess the fact that I haven't heard of it just shows that it's largely been forgotten.

The story itself is fairly straightforward. There are two brothers, one is obsessed with sex, and rarely gets enough of it. He masturbates in front of strangers on trains and watches girls shower. Also, he is a teacher and masturbates in front of one of his underage pupils.The other is a more complicated character. He is a quiet scientist, who takes a year off work "to think" and spends most of his life alone. He is not interested in love or relationships, and finds no joy in sex.

But the back of the book claims "the real subject of the novel is the dismantling of contemporary society and it's assumptions" - and this is why people like it. Houellebecq dives in deep time and time again and gets his teeth into all sorts. It's clever and adds a lot to the read.  We jump from the molecular make up of happiness and debates on free will to group sex in jacuzzis.

The trouble is that Houellebecq comes across as nasty. He seems like a cynical, dirty old man.

The controversy from this book largely stems from the graphic sex. These days it is no big deal, we've had Fifty Shades and the internet. It has been said Houellebecq just wanted to shock with this book, and it does not work with sex in the 21st century.

The other issue is race. Houellebecq has been accused of racism lots since this book. And it is prevalent here. It really leaves a bad taste.

So Houllebecq tries to mix high concepts and clever thoughts in with lurid graphic scenes. And I really think the clever bits seemed much more clever to Houllebecq than they did to anyone else. It's all a bit tiresome and sex in books is just not a big deal anymore to anyone.

When this book was about to be published, Houellebecq said "It will either destroy me or make me famous". To be honest I kind of just mildly disliked it. I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone and I doubt I'll remember it in years to come.