With each new book, Houellebecq seems to get more and more disappointed with society and life if that’s possible at all given his consistently misanthropic and pessimistic oeuvre. I have a hard time imagining women liking or even reading this book to the end as basically every mention of them is in a merely objectifying way. They are objects of Houellebecq’s sexual wishful thinking, no real characters. In so far, Serotonin can’t be further away from any political correctness. I hope and I read Houellebecq in a way that it’s an expression of disappointment with life and not an expression of misogynism.
This continous breach of political correctness and mainstream opinion as well as a negative perspective is carried through all subjects appearing. The negation of playing to the vocational rules of society, irreconcilable criticism of agricultural policies, plotting child murder or denial of all interpersonal relationships to the extreme of eliminating oneself from society in all concerns. What does it say about myself that this might be my favourite book read in 2021?