

(.) It soon becomes clear, however, that Nothomb is not sure how far to take this horrific vision. "It is an extraordinary - yet almost ludicrously obvious - conceit, freighted with philosophical challenges regarding the nature of a voyeuristic society on the verge of moral collapse, and in the opening stages of the novel Nothomb seems likely to pull it off.Et la rédemption finale de la méchante au grand cœur en affaiblit encore la portée." - Isabelle Rüf, Le Temps Mais sa fable est trop schématique pour être crédible. "Amélie Nothomb joue sur le fait que la souffrance des autres fait toujours recette, qu'il n'y a pas de limites à l'abjection des humains."(T)his slender novel is elegant and clever - but it might make you wonder when in the future dystopias are going to become so chic." - Emily Stokes, The Observer.Er nimmt den Schock, das ganze Lagersystem und die Tötungsmaschinerie letztlich nur als Kulisse, um etwas ganz anderes zu erzählen, und ist deshalb selber zynisch." - Thomas Laux, Neue Zürcher Zeitung "Das Hauptproblem des neuen Romans der Belgierin ist ohnehin ein ganz anderes.

While Nothomb can be deliciously astute about "outsiders", here, characters and setting feel token." - Marianne Brace, The Independent The story should be disturbing, but isn't. (.) Nothomb displays her usual light touch, but her insights on media hypocrisy, celebrity and voyeurism are rather obvious. Her characters are merely vessels for bald ideas there is nothing for the reader to elaborate on or unravel." - Lottie Moggach, Financial Times (.) Gleefully defying all bourgeois notions of "good" writing, Nothomb has no truck with description, sub-plot and showing, not telling. "As an allegory of our amoral, celebrity-obsessed culture, the short new novel by this young Belgian author is as subtle as a whack on the head with a mallet."Amélie Nothomb s'est-elle fourvoyée avec candeur, ou a-t-elle volontairement décidé de choquer? Juste pour le plaisir de voir, tapie sous son chapeau, la polémique enfler, les critiques l'éreinter ?" - Marianne Payot, L'Express.General information | review summaries | our review | links | about the author Trying to meet all your book preview and review needs.
