Michel Houellebecq: Whatever

Whatever (Extension du domaine de la lutte), previous to Atomized, is another tale of solitary particles (individuals) moving in a deep space of nothingness. The narrator is even more devastated by absurdity than Meursault, "the stranger" from the novel by Albert Camus.

A nonsensical world. Same as the one that Meursault inhabits, but with the atmosphere of late 20th century-professional world and consumer society.

A particle, an atom cannot, or should not, exist on its own. It needs to form molecules and macromolecules and even cells and living matter. No other message lies under Whatever or Atomized.

Whatever is one of those fundamental novels of our age, along with the rest of Houellebecq´s work. Their reading is a very umpleasant and dark experience. But also something we have to do, if we want to understand properly the world we live in. No matter if we consider ourselves houllebecquian creatures or not.

Funny, terrifying and nauseating, says The Independent in the cover of the English edition. Hard to imagine a better combination of words to describe the disgustingly absorbing little novel.

Whatever 1994 Michel Houellebecq