Review of Michel Houellebecq’s: Serontonin.
«Moderation is best …»
The book once again explores Houellebecq’s addictions to alcohol, sex, drugs, tobacco, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia and «assholism» as literary topics.
Free association is one of Houellebecq’s stream of consciousness writing style trademarks. Sometimes it is used rather indiscriminately and « too much, too frequently ». While I understand that self-analysis, drug and alcohol abuse, and writing about relationships invites such deep dives, here I was lulled to sleep several times. He is an excellent writer and he plans and researches his books extensively. This leads me to believe that these immersions into the depths of mundane nothingness (annihilation by submission) are both planned and a way of avoiding ownership of emotions and feelings (through dialogue and active drama). Repetition and overuse of this particular aspect in his subjective writing style begs critical analysis, especially when writing is so often self-biographical to a large degree.
Is this a good book? Yes, it is well-written, but it is more of the same itch that cannot be properly scratched when describing interpersonal relationships and feelings beyond actual sexual acts and fantasies. This cowardice is perhaps yet another « addiction » for which he has no solution. Moderation is sometimes best … (I’m just sayin’). In my opinion Michel Houellebecq might benefit from reading (or re-reading) « Local Anaesthetic » (German: Örtlich betäubt) by the German writer Günter Grass.
EPITAPH.
Situated on a hill overlooking
The ruined temple at Delos
Lay a mound of earth covered
With herbs and wildflowers.
Anonymity and olive trees
Shield the unmarked grave
From further disturbance
By inquiry over time.
From the beach below one
Can sometimes visualize
The crescent moon posing
As luminous horns of consecration
Hovering above the burial site —
A symbol of both the old religion
And infinity.
And reflected in the perfect
Scheme of constellations is
The haunting warning of an
Ingenious soul that will
Never rest:
“Ariston metron”
(moderation is best) …
— Adam Donaldson Powell
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