Atomised [Hardcover]

Michel Houellebecq (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 4, 2000

Half-brothers Michel and Bruno have a mother in common, but little else. In this bilious and darkly funny dissection of modern lives and loves, the brothers are symptomatic members of an atomised society.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Very moving, gloriously, extravagantly filthy and very funny', Independent .'Destined to become a cult book... a genuine page-turner', Observer .'A brave and rather magnificent book', Daily Telegraph --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann (May 4, 2000)
• ISBN-10: 0434007935
• ISBN-13: 978-0434007936
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,372,698 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mark Diamond's suspicions may be correct, February 12, 2004

By 

G. M. Arnold "Geoff, that is" (Palo Alto, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Atomised (Hardcover)

...I picked up a copy at Heathrow before a flight to Boston, expecting to read a few pages while waiting for airline food and blissful oblivion. To my surprise, I couldn't put it down, and I was still reading as we touched down at Logan. I found myself wondering why I actually cared about these unattractive, depressing characters, and then I realized that it was because they represent the unattractive, depressing parts of me, of all of us. The book is deeply un-American in its view of what is important in life. It's stunning. Recommended, unless you're taking SSRIs or similar medication.

UPDATE: Just after submitting the above, I discovered the reason for the absence of reviews for "Atomised": the US publisher changed the name to "The Elementary Particles". Now I've always hated this habit - the original title was just fine, and there wasn't an existing "Atomised" to cause confusion - but I'm particularly annoyed that nothing on the Amazon pages for either title shows the relationship between the two. This is what hypertext is supposed to be to good for.....

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Reading!, February 19, 2007

By 

G. S Senko "gregsenko" (Media PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Atomised (Paperback)

Michel Houllebecq set a high conceptual standard with this book, The Elementary Particles, nearly 10 years ago. Without entering the Science Fiction genre, he was able to do what the Best Science Fiction writers have been trying to do for three generations: Out-do Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World." That book is a philosophical Tour de Force. if you have not read it, do!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great and disturbing, March 1, 2005

By 

Ron Colt (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Atomised (Hardcover)

Incidentally, I picked up a copy at Heathrow before a flight to Kathmandu, and finished it the same day. It left me a bit depressed for three days. To overcome this I thought I'd look for a book that might offer a different perspective on the central ideas of the story. I ran into Fritjof Capra's The Hidden Connections, which I feel is an excellent follow-up for anyone interested in a more theoretical approach to the subject.

For that matter: Atomised is a fitting title indeed, for it's the lack of connection that lies at the core of this excellent story.