Book Review: Atomised by Michel Houellebecq

“People often say that the English are very cold fish, very reserved, that they have a way of looking at things – even tragedy – with a sense of irony. There’s some truth in it; it’s pretty stupid of them, though. Humor won’t save you; it doesn’t really do anything at all. You can look at life ironically for years, maybe decades; there are people who seem to go through most of their lives seeing the funny side, but in the end, life always breaks your heart. Doesn’t matter how brave you are, how reserved, or how much you’ve developed a sense of humor, you still end up with your heart broken. That’s when you stop laughing. In the end there’s just the cold, the silence and the loneliness. In the end, there’s only death.”

― Michel Houellebecq, The Elementary Particles

French author Michel Houellebecq's book Atomized was released in France in 1998.  It chronicles the mental battles of two half-brothers, Bruno and Michel, against their circumstances in contemporary society.  The Elementary Particles in the US and Atomised in the UK are the English translations by Frank Wynne.  For writer and translator, it was the recipient of the International Dublin Literary Award.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

An international literary phenomenon, The Elementary Particles also known as Atomised is a frighteningly original novel–part Marguerite Duras and part Bret Easton Ellis-that leaps headlong into the malaise of contemporary existence.

Bruno and Michel are half-brothers abandoned by their mother, an unabashed devotee of the drugged-out free-love world of the sixties. Bruno, the older, has become a raucously promiscuous hedonist himself, while Michel is an emotionally dead molecular biologist wholly immersed in the solitude of his work. Each is ultimately offered a final chance at genuine love, and what unfolds is a brilliantly caustic and unpredictable tale.

My reaction to this novel...

It was obviously not a light or simple experience to read Michel Houellebecq's Atomised (or The Elementary Particles, depending on the version), but I'm really happy I did.

The two half-brothers, Michel and Bruno, are the subject of this book. They were raised in frigid, remote surroundings by a mother who was too preoccupied with pursuing independence and hippy ideas to be a true parent. After that, the book delves deeply into their adult lives, showing how emotionally scarred they are and how difficult it is for them to connect, find purpose, and find love in the contemporary world.

Michel is a great scientist who is emotionally aloof and who values ideas and cells over people. Bruno, on the other hand, is nearly the complete opposite—he is sex-obsessed, emotionally vulnerable, and always longing for love. Despite their seemingly disparate lifestyles, they are each lonely in their own ways and are coping with the fallout from growing up without warmth, security, or true love.

I was particularly impressed by the book's brutality and honesty regarding contemporary living.  Nothing is sugarcoated by Houellebecq. He discusses aging, relationships, loneliness, sex, despair, science, and even the future of mankind in ways that are both realistic and often unsettling. I must admit that reading some of it made me uneasy, but I was unable to turn away. It seems as though he is pointing to a mirror and telling society, "This is who we've become."

The idea that individuals nowadays feel more alone than ever before keeps coming up. Many of us feel hollow despite all the freedom and "modern love" that we are supposed to enjoy. The novel got me thinking about how society evolved after the 1960s and whether or not such changes made people happy or more disoriented.

However, there is still hope. In the end, the scientist Michel envisions a time when genetic engineering would allow individuals to be remade to be painless and desireless. Although it sounds dramatic, even frightening, it also demonstrates how much people want some form of peace. But in reality and most especially, we can only get peace if we follow Jesus.

I will admit that this book is somewhat heavy. I occasionally had to stop and simply sit with what I was reading.  It's one of those stories that sticks with you, though. Even if you disagree with everything, it creates an environment for in-depth thought and poses difficult issues.

Atomized is, in my opinion, a really intelligent, tragic, and poignant book. It's not for everyone, particularly if you're searching for a simple or reassuring book. However, this book will make an impression on you if you're willing to be exposed to something unvarnished, provocative, and agonizingly personal.

It caused me to reflect on my own relationships, the ways in which society teaches us to love or not. It occasionally unnerved me, but not in a way that alienated me but rather challenged me.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐(3/5)