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0 von 1 Kunden fanden die folgende Rezension hilfreich:
4.0 von 5 Sternen
Pessimism à la Houellebecq, 21. Dezember 2005
This book is a refreshing dive in the “à la Houellebecq” pessimism. The storyline is made of two intertwined stories, one taking place in our times, centering around Daniel, a sort of successful French play-writer and comedian, the other one being set in a post-apocalyptic future, Daniel being replaced by its clone, Daniel24. If “The Elementary Particles” ends as the neo-human race is taking over the old one, hopefully bringing an end to its pain and contradictions, in “The Possibility of an Island “ we can contemplate this thing actually happening. Actually, is not really “taking over”, as the neo-humans, individuals living isolated in safe compounds, exist parallel to the remains of the real humanity, survivors of an atomic war and an apocalyptic drought which left the oceans dry, degenerated creatures, dirty and cruel, even cannibalistic. As usual in literature when using the “future” play kit, this is just a pretext to put contemporary issues in a better light: these failed creatures, the surviving humans, are just what is supposed to be left of us, our civilization and culture taken away, the evil twin of the mythical “noble savage”. Houellebecq is sketching a not very reassuring (but somehow misleading, one shouldn’t forget this is just literary fiction) picture of our contemporary times either: Daniel, although a rich, socially successful, healthy, good-looking man, places more value on the relationship with its dog, Fox, as on the ones with humans. Left outside of an economy of sex which has youthfulness as its hard currency, but only after he had a good taste of it – her name is Esther – humiliated, he’s finally choosing to commit suicide. The book is a good read, if one already got accustomed with Houllebecq’s style, I find it more nihilistic than “The Elementary Particles”. Its fascination residing much on provocation, the book caused some stir in France, where it even got nominated for the Prix Goncourt, one of the most important French literary prizes.
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