Yey, i am Murat. I am amateur web developer , and i have build a platform that is inspired by Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, where people can post honest (or informative or dishonest! or funny) definitive dictionary like entries. I thought that you could be the perfect source of feedback to take a look at my Project, also you may want to post some definitions as concentrated form of your reviews I am so sorry if my comment not ok for here, i am living familys home as a carpet to do this. You can find it by seeaching "coofl" I hope i can get good feedback from you.
This novel hit me so hard and I literally had to take breaks when reading and I’m not even half through. It opened a lot of old wounds. The schools, the relationships, the anomie, everything. Damn. Too close. Too real. I love it. Will never read again. 10/10 Like a writer told me: “Houellebecq penetrates deep into the real, that’s why people attack him.”
Trying to convince my Reformed church friends that Houellebecq implicitly understands the Fall and depravity of man and all the sex in his novels is testament to the death out of genuine intimacy at the altar of hedonism
I wrote a review about Les particules élementaires but in french :-): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rDZup0TnjXE.html Great channel by the way!
He is one my heroes. He has taken much criticism and has not buckled. His books critique the left and right but I feel that many people are too woke too appreciate the genius in his mind.
The thing to keep in mind with Houellebecq is that he is a disillusioned believer in the Enlightenment. A bitterness which has turned him into a low-key misanthrope. As an optimistic nihilist (yes, that's a thing), there are many points where I agree. The main difference is Houellebecq's view comes down to "the Enlightenment failed and we're all doomed." Mine is, "okay, the Enlightenment failed, what's next?"
I read this book first at 19. I saw the (then just released english trans) hardcover on the bookstore self and read the back and could feel what was in it and I new that this is one the books of my life. 10 years later I almost did a masters thesis on it (and a few other books). I have read it 5 times at least and it never takes me more than 24 hours. It always makes me weep and laugh and all kinds of other great things. I am tearing up just writing these few sentences about it. It is the last great book of the 20th century or the first great book of the 21st.
While in College, studying Journalism, one of my professors was the official Michel Houellebecq translator to Brazilian Portuguese. So, of course, he used some of his books as bibliography and suggested reading in the classes, so we had some debates and review exercises on The Elementary Particles and Whatever (Extension du domaine de la lutte). Houellebecq was once invited by him to a lecture, initially closed to professors and academics, but me and some colleagues asked to be included and got the chance to see him speak and even get autographs from him. It was a really nice discovery and I am really happy to have found an author that speaks so deeply to us. Agreed on the admiration for him and his work.
'Serotonin' was my first Houellebecq . . . loved it. Not my last -- he's right up my alley, so to speak. Thanks for the review. Added to my ever-growing TBR list.
No, M. Houellebecq doesn't have any scientific background that i know of. He was a true fan of sci-fi, and he did a lot of research for that book, he read and learned quite a bit (on quantum physics and such) to make sure not to write something stupid. His background was mainly in the IT department for the administration, nothing fancy, even a bit depressing i would postulate. (which fits the character that we know) It also fits his worldview to expose nature as evil as he clearly states in interviews that he firmly believes in a future in which humans "make things better" on that front with eugenics and such. Salutations from Belgium!
Really appreciate the videos, each and single one brings me solace in my solitude, same as the power of books allows you to feel less alone, so does this help. Of course, with the added benefit of some great book recommendations.
Greetings from the south of Spain! I came across your channel by chance and I love it. We also have a similar taste regarding literature. Why don't you review A Personal Matter, by Japanese writer Kenzaburō Ōe? It's short but very deep. Gracias!
Since discovering your channel I have read all of Houellebecq's stuff, and The Elementary Particles today since you uploaded it. Thank you for sharing these masterful works! You're the best.
His novel 'Whatever' changed my vision of Life forever. Before Houellebecq I never thought a book could really put you down. I LOVE his books and I wonder why because they leave shattered.
I just finished reading this brilliant book and am listening to your review again, it feels almost like a reminiscence and since I have not yet discussed this book with anyone else, I thank you for it!
Just finished rereading the book today for the third time, and I cried at the end (didn't happen the first two times). I didn't understand why, then realized I'm 39. One year younger than Michel and Annabelle at the end of the main narrative.
@@MrPROJECTSyNc i certainly am. You see 'I Get' houllebecq. His stuff is dark but at the same time he sends a message to say that life is full of problems no matter what so dont take it too seriously. I love when he brings sex tourism into his characters as a plan b. Gets me every time 😂😂😂👍🍻
Don't know why but for you I recommend the polarizing movie My Dinner With Andre. I hated it when I first saw it, but now it is my favorite movie. It is intellectual in the true sense of the word.
I'm about 1/3 of the way through & I'm surprised how difficult it's been to read. I'm no stranger to reading about the darkness of humanity & what people are capable of doing to each other but for some reason I felt more disturbed by how poorly these guys were treated. I will finish it because I loved "Serotonin" & I think this book has a lot to offer, but it's pretty "real" & while that's important, it's not always easy to get through!
When I was ten my life was one big (happy) moment. That was 1959. I lived in a parallell universe of cowboys. 24/7. Long been a fan of Houellebecq. First novel by him I read was The Elementary Particles. That was in 1999. My boxer pup ate parts of it, so I had to piece the end pages together to be able to finish it. Saw the movie, but it wasn't good.
Read it a couple of years ago during a nice summer, it sorta scarred me. Every single time I look at the cover, it kinda gives me a very disconcerting feeling, like I shouldn't have read that book...
I have just finished reading this novel in the original French. I didn’t find it very funny, but that must be that my sense of humour doesn’t gel with Houellebecq‘s. There are lots of TV comedy shows I don’t think funny at all. However reading Houellebecq in French is a great way to learn French slang words, particularly those to do with sex. There is one quote in the book that stuck me. I can’t remember it exactly, but the jest is ”the eternity of childhood is a short eternity“.
Man, that book is like being slowly being hit by a train whilst sitting in one's couch. It sizzles, then it rips you open. Also, I think Platform is as great as this book is, even though they are very different.
Really appreciated the video. I'd suggest that you upload a vídeo about " how to stay alive a method" an essay Houllebecq wrote about insanity, survival and art. Kind of boomer to any good vibe phony people from these new age groups. Is great. Also a reinterpretation of Victor Frankl positive look on life, very much inspired by Works of Schopenhauer. Anyway good video. Cheers from somewhere
"The possibility of an island" goes really well with "Lanzarote" since the ideas explored in the first appear to have begun to take form in the second. Really recommend it although it's not as good as his other works.
Holy Cow, that's all OVER the place. I've read Serotonin, but am fascinated by things from 1998 of late. What I want to know is, is your black button-up shirt by FILSON, of Seattle, Washington?
Hi Mr. Clifford, I’ve recently watched one of your first videos, it was the one about Jorge Luis Borges, you said that you got real emotional when you read ‘The Circular Ruins’, I’ve just read that short story and really loved it. Can you tell me what particularly part hit you to put you in that state? Love your videos.
I know you mentioned a few times, but I was wondering if you could do a video specifically on the subject of your relantionship with pessimisic art and world views and mental health. You warn people to maybe not read this if they are in a bad moment of life, but you seem to read it frequently. Are you "always" fine? Or are you one of those people who actually read stuff like this (and other medium of arts) when depressed for a cathartical moment? I, particularly, in the more depressed moments of my life tended to feel awful if watching a film and the characters were happy and had what I never did. Etc etc.
I love The Elementary Particles. It's an outrageous, sad, funny and a furious dark comedy of the mediocrity of human life. I want to read another time. Thanks for your review!
I humbly suggest to take a look in Leopardi's works (prose not translated poetry) or at least the thoughts. 'cause this evil stepmother nature thing is OLD. Nonetheless I love houellbeq too🤷💌
after all the relentless effed up bruno and depressing this book had the most positive imaginative scifi ending of any book i have ever read and it solves all the problems of humanity. a human triumph of egalitarianism over nature.
Of course it is. Meaning it is a necessary evil. That Balances what has been damaged. And damages what has been balanced. Nature is God. And God is Nature.
Thomas Hobbes argues that the state of nature is a miserable state of war in which none of our important human ends are reliably realizable. Life is..."SOLITARY, POOR, NASTY, BRUTISH, AND SHORT."
Mr. H seems to be right about everything and that is too scary. Have you considered Pachinko as the next book? I am really curious about how would you like it.
Hey, I love your videos, I found really great books through your channel, and I really would like to see your view and the thoughts on the novel "The Legends Of Khazak" By O.V. Vijayan.
Platform is often not regarded as one of his best books , but it holds a special place in my heart. The journey of the main character and Valerie where they seemed to finally find the salvation they were looking for all their lives only to have it end like it did always destroys me. Couldn't help but feel I would personally have taken the same steps he did if I went through what he did.
@@danilosanches2810 i know what you mean. It’s tragically sad love story. He had nothing to live for at the end. I can understand why he choose to die…
I bought Atomised a few years ago but have definitely struggled with it - I keep stopping and starting - by what I remember the start is a bit of a slog. I felt like the author is trying to showcase how smart he is at the expense of the actual story and characters. However, I've read and watched some reviews of Houellbecq and think I wouldn't be doing myself any favours if I didn't try to give it one last go.
I find the book too depressing and too full of bitterness. I think MH does observe big contradictions and problems in our modern society, but his diagnosis is often misplaced to some cheap reactionary take. Immigrants, feminism, atheism all is too blame. As someone here already mentioned, MH has no alternative to the crisis we observe, he can only attack progress. For me he is an author with extremely small imagination for anything beyond the bitter and sex
