The Elementary Particles (1998)

I've finally read The Elementary Particles of Michelle Houellebecq. I wanted to read a book of Houellebecq for a long time, but it just didn't happened untill last week when I bought the book. One of the reasons I wanted to read a Houellebecq is of course the controversy surrounding Houellebecq. It's a good way to keep getting attention and keep people excited, I guess.

First of all, I found The Elementary Particles a great mixture of sociological history of the Western world and popular science( fiction). Most of the characters personal histories are extensively described, which should make it easier to understand them. I don't mind the explit sexual and violant scenes of the book, because in this case it's justified as the writer describes the main characters and the emptiness of their existence.

What bothers me a bit more is that the story evolves with the help of long monologues, but that's just my personal opinion. Most people wouldn't even notice that, so don't pay too much attention on my remark.

Now here's a notable quote, roughly translated from the Dutch version: "Unpredictable; Unpredictable, frivolous and clownish, that's how people are". I now realise this has much more impact when you would have felt the context in which you could have read this in the book, but it describes the theme perfectly and the reason why I really liked it.

Chocolate Milk Pictures

Last evening after swimming for about an hour, I bought a big chocolate milk pack and drunk it on my way home. It's healthy and apparently better for recovery.

Now I do love walking down the streets at night, but last night I just felt I had to make some pictures. Chocolate milk makes me do crazy stuff obviously, because I was really impressed by the first picture.

Krauss vs Mercier 1 - 0

I was reading Night Train To Lisbon by Pascal Mercier. After a while I noticed a similarity between this book and The History Of Love by Nicole Krauss. Both stories evolve around another book. Strange thing is: I stopped reading Night Train To Lisbon because I felt this technique of using another book in the story was a cheap way to show the writer's poetic supremacy, even though I'm well aware of the fact it was not meant like that. But still, that's something I didn't feel when reading The History Of Love. Of course there were more reasons for me to stop reading Night Train To Lisbon, but that's my main reason.

No hard feelings, Mr. Mercier, no hard feelings...

Ken Kesey On A 20 Euro Bill

Strange things happen in life. About a week ago I got a 20 euro bill with the following words and things on it:

ESTRECHA LA MANO A-TODO EL MUNDO,

EXCEPTO AL GRAN GEORGE, EL MANIÁTI-

CO DEL AGUA, QUE HACE UNA MECA Y

REHÚYE ESA MANO POCE ASÉPTICA, DE MODO QUE

McMURPHY SE LIMITA A SALUDARLE Y,

MIENTRAS SE ALESA, LA DICE A SU,

PROPIA MANO DERECHA:-|MANO, ?CÓMP

CREES QUE ESE TIPO HA PODIDO DESCU-

ERIR TODO EL MAL QUE HAB HECHA? [KEN KESEY]

Don't know which language this or what it means, but I guess one flew over the cuckoo's nest.

By the way, on the 7th line there's a question mark that's actually upside down on the bill.