Word: upon
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Dates: during 2000-2000
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...potential leading figure for a whole new generation of writers who will bring the grand French tradition of unmitigated anomie to dizzying new depths. And now, with the recent English translation of The Elementary Particles, his newest and most hotly debated novel, Houellebecq is determined to impress his genius upon the American literary scene...
...would do well, however, to be somewhat wary of this bloated hype. For all the talk of the scandal, indignation and adoration that this world-weary little man has produced, there has been a curious lack of commentary upon the quality of his prose and his philosophy. This is indeed to Houellebecq's advantage, as his novel gives the avant-gardes a bad name. Beneath its glossy veneer of scandal, The Elementary Particles is an amazingly shallow and silly read. Filled with poorly realized characters, indifferent writing and ludicrous leaps of logic, the novel will not leave you pondering...
...it’s galling to resort to heaping such faint praise upon the film when it makes so resolute an effort to stay superficial on every level. It spells out themes and motivations with exasperatingly banal clarity, with the odd obliquely stated plot point tossed in for variety. Time after time, the filmmakers mistake blunt musings for character depth and obvious platitudes for sage utterances. Most insultingly, the film has an annoyingly high “tired scenario” quotient, squeezing in a Big Game, multiple teacher-student confrontations, and a half-serious flirtation between Jamal...
...Democratic Breaux has a Medicare plan in the works that Bush likes, and he's the kind of mild-mannered centrist upon whom Bush's plan to "unite, not divide" depends. But Bush was expected to make Breaux an offer that Breaux can definitely refuse: leave the Senate and be my energy secretary...
...equally skeptical) views of Bush's bipartisan achievements in the Lone Star State. Some argue Bush succeeded because he learned (and excelled at) Texas's peculiar political culture. "In part," writes the New York Times' Jim Yardley, "Bush succeeded [in Texas] because his political style, built in part upon schmoozing and personal contact, played well in the backslapping culture of the Capitol...