Present Books Supposing 99 francs (Octave Parango #1)
| Original Title: | 99 Francs |
| ISBN: | 2070315738 (ISBN13: 9782070315734) |
| Edition Language: | French URL http://www.gallimard.fr |
| Series: | Octave Parango #1 |
| Characters: | Octavo Parengo |
| Literary Awards: | Independent Foreign Fiction Prize Nominee for Shortlist (2003) |
Frédéric Beigbeder
Paperback | Pages: 304 pages Rating: 3.57 | 12443 Users | 421 Reviews
Point Epithetical Books 99 francs (Octave Parango #1)
| Title | : | 99 francs (Octave Parango #1) |
| Author | : | Frédéric Beigbeder |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 304 pages |
| Published | : | July 31st 2004 by Gallimard (first published August 2000) |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Cultural. France. Contemporary. European Literature. French Literature |
Ilustration Concering Books 99 francs (Octave Parango #1)
En ce temps-là, on mettait des photographies géantes de produits sur les murs, les arrêts d'autobus, les maisons, le sol, les taxis, les camions, la façade des immeubles en cours de ravalement, les meubles, les ascenseurs, les distributeurs de billets, dans toutes les rues et même à la campagne. La vie était envahie par des soutiens-gorge, des surgelés, des shampoings antipelliculaires et des rasoirs triple-lame. L'œil humain n'avait jamais été autant sollicité de toute son histoire : on avait calculé qu'entre sa naissance et l'âge de 18 ans, toute personne était exposée en moyenne à 350 000 publicités. Même à l'orée des forêts, au bout des petits villages, en bas des vallées isolées et au sommet des montagnes blanches, sur les cabines de téléphérique, on devait affronter des logos "Castorama", "Bricodécor", "Champion Midas" et "La Halle aux Vêtements". Il avait fallu deux mille ans pour en arriver là.Rating Epithetical Books 99 francs (Octave Parango #1)
Ratings: 3.57 From 12443 Users | 421 ReviewsAppraise Epithetical Books 99 francs (Octave Parango #1)
I hated the main character throughout the book, because it manages to possess all the personlity traits I very much dislike in people. But I did try to understand him. Octave thought he could have everything with money and power - even love and sincere feelings. Success makes it very easy for him to look like a person who lives everyone's dream. Underneath the perfectly polished mask there is a complete emptiness which Octave tries to fill with drugs and disgustingly arrogant behaviour.99 francs is Beigbeder's reckoning with the advertising industry. He shares his deeply cynical views on corporate life and ethics. The book is written as a meta fiction, i.e. the protagonist Octavo supposedly writes the book in an effort to be fired. He's fed up with his job, not enough to quit by himself but is happy to leave the decision to others, hoping for the golden handshake.The content: cocaine, sexual perversions, corporate bullshit bingo, contempt for the mediocrity of business
Deliciously cynical...I doubt there is another way to describe Frederic`s style more accurately...Enjoyed every page of the book and would recommend it to anyone. Quite an easy read as well.
Those who did not have any chance to experience or even to see the life of Octave is hard to understand the feelings in this book. Also for them who has any idea of pure marketing should be truly amazed by writers attitude to all described scenes and emotions. And one more thing, begbeider has one very interesting way of expressing. Even he says something against with the words, doesnt mean he really does. His words sometime need to be taken really cearefully.
The discourse part is a simplified and easy version of the leftist philosophers of the 60s and 70s (mostly Baudrillard, Marcuse, Fromm and such). It is not necessarily a bad thing since the originals are often verbose and require too much effort. The plot itself is quite predictable. On the whole it's a book to read and to forget.
I would have rated this higher if the translation was better. It was not bad enough to ruin my enjoyment of the book, but close. For some odd reason the translator decided to switch the setting of the story from Paris to London creating some awkward passages. Despite this, I'd still would recommend it and when my skill level improves, I will re-read it in the original French.
I have somewhat mixed feelings about this book. Firstly I find it hard to see where the original French version might have featured, if at all? The characters really irritated me, and at times I just wondered what the hell the whole point of reading some jumped up wanker whittering on about how great he thinks he is! I mean come on!Some interesting things did come to light though, such as the tyre that will never puncture, and Coca Cola etc, but on the whole, this just didnt really float my
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