Sex is mathematics. Individuality no longer an issue. What does intelligence signify? Define reason. Desire - meaningless. Intellect is not a cure. Justice is dead.

Do you wear a diaphragm everywhere you go?' I want to scream, but stop myself because the idea really excites me.

But this was what happened when you didn't want to visit and confront the past: the past starts visiting and confronting you.

I'm on the verge of tears by the time we arrive at Pastels since I'm positive we won't get seated but the table is good, and relief that is almost tidal in scope washes over me in an awesome wave.

Michel Houellebecq is the most interesting, provocative and important European novelist of my generation. Period. No one else comes close. He has written two or maybe three great books, and his latest, The Map and the Territory, is one of them.

It's the rare book that's able to transport you in a way that a movie does.

I think we've all lost some kind of feeling.