881. Whatever

Whatever
Michel Houellebecq
1994

Around 160 pages

I just read an article that explored how "nasty" writers are perceived differently depending on their gender. One of the names mentioned was Michel Houellebecq and, lo and behold, he's our next bachelor on the List. 

A depressed and isolated computer programmer tries to convince a colleague to murder a young woman who rejected the colleague's sexual advances, although the colleague is more interested in killing the black guy she's with than the woman.

How many literary crimes against humanity have been committed in the name of satire? We get the prototypical incel character, depicted as a consequence of sexual liberation creating a sexual underclass. And as punishment, we have to read a novel by and about a woman-hating sicko.

An ugly book and not worth talking about really.

 

RATING: *----

Interesting Facts:

Adapted into film in 1999.

UP NEXT: The Folding Star by Alan Hollinghurst