What's the name of this French novel?

April 28, 2006 2:09 AM

What's the name of this French novel (and who wrote it)?

Sometime in the early 90s (I would say between 91-93), the Village Voice reviewed a (first?) novel that was just translated. Originally published in French by a French novelist, the book, as pointed out in the review, was absurd, and the reviewer illustrated this with a scene from the book where a female character wound up with a dart thrown into the middle of her forehead by the male protagonist. The review was mixed, and I think they even compared it to Camus The Stranger because of the use of the Absurd.

I purchased the book, even read it, shortly after reading this review, but for the life of me can't recall its name. Anyone know what book I'm trying to remember?

posted by missed to media & arts (6 comments total)

A long shot - it couldn't be Michel Houellebecq, could it? His first novel was Extension de la domaine de la lutte, translated as 'Whatever' in 1994.
posted by altolinguistic at 2:21 AM on April 28, 2006

I think altolinguistic has it.
posted by ceri richard at 2:51 AM on April 28, 2006

thanks, ceri - haven't actually read it, though have seen the film, and I don't remember the scene with the dart in the head - hence my caution.
posted by altolinguistic at 4:59 AM on April 28, 2006

Funny, I knew it must be Michel Houellebecq just because it was a recent French author. I've not read any of his books.
posted by OmieWise at 5:37 AM on April 28, 2006

I'll give it a shot... thanks. You're probably right as this article by Hoberman indicates the Stranger comparison.
posted by missed at 6:28 AM on April 28, 2006

Houellebecq (wikipedia)
posted by shoepal at 8:53 PM on April 28, 2006