The final (?) novel from France’s controversial but important writer. Here, he is somewhat moderated (relatively) on the shock value in the narrative and moves towards a (almost) wholesome story of the value of relationships and family in the face of a bureaucratic life.
This novel centers around a fairly high-ranking bureaucrat, Paul, who works for an agency head who is quickly rising up the ranks of political power. Paul has no friends and is in a marriage that has turned into little more than a roomate situation when a series of attacks rocks the French intelligence. When his father suffers a stroke, Paul has to pause his political work to help handle the situation with his brother and sister, both of whom are married to less-than-appealing characters.
Houellebecq pivots the novel from a sort of political thriller into a family novel as the family learns to put differences aside and live with each other (or not) and reconnect while helping there father escape a difficult situation in a care facility. Here, the novel become touching at times as people come together during difficult times to lend a hand or shoulder to cry on. Of course, this is Houellebecq so it can’t be too touching without some horrifying twists.
If this is the final work from the (in)famous author, it marks a shift from the crude shock value and nihilistic social commentary toward a future enriched by relationships and strong throughout the most difficult circumstances. But be warned that it’s still Houellebecq…
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