Attack by Amélie Nothomb (1997)

Attentat by Amélie Nothomb is Amélie Nothomb’s fifth novel, published in 1997 by Albin Michel.

The back cover reads: “The first time I saw myself in a mirror, I laughed: I didn’t believe it was me. Now, when I look at my reflection, I laugh: I know it’s me. And there’s something funny about so much ugliness.”

Cruel and funny are the two words I can think of that perfectly reflect the mood of the entire book.

Is Épiphane Otos condemned by his ugliness to live excluded from human society and forbidden from love? Having become the paradoxical star of a top modeling agency, Épiphane will be in turn martyr and executioner, ambassador of international monstrosity… and lover of the divine Éthel, a young actress moved by his hideousness. On an eternal theme, the author of Hygiène de l’assassin and Les Catilinaires offers us a cruel and funny tale.

About the author: born in 1967 in Kobe, Amélie Nothomb, daughter of a Belgian diplomat, spent her childhood and adolescence in Japan and China. After completing her studies in philology, she decided to devote herself entirely to writing. She lives in Brussels. The author has been writing since the age of seventeen. I had the honor of meeting her twice at book fairs. She signed this book for me, among others.

As for the German translator (for those who are interested!):

Wolfgang Krege, born and raised in Berlin. Studied philosophy at the Free University in the early 1960s. Encyclopedia editor, advertising copywriter, reader for publishing houses. Translator since 1970 (“The Silmarillion”, “The Hobbit”, Anthony Burgess, Annie Proulx, Amélie Nothomb, and many others), first reading of “The Lord of the Rings” in 1970, new translation of “The Lord of the Rings” in 2000.

Very concise summary:

Can intelligence be as captivating and seductive as physical beauty? Epiphane wants to prove it to his beloved… despite all the difficulties this entails.

Preface:

Amélie Nothomb’s bitter version of “Beauty and the Beast.”

“Nothomb is a player; words are her craft. And she has mastered all the tricks of the trade.”

Comment: “Amélie Nothomb is a master in the art of recording the dark sides of human beings, the wounds we inflict on each other.” Kronen Zeitung

Epiphane has everything to dislike and hates the world as much as the world hates him. Until one day, at the age of 29, he meets Éthel, beautiful in body and soul. For her and thanks to her, he decides to exploit his ugliness and becomes a model-repoussoir for the most fashionable supermodels.

So now it’s my turn to write what I think.

With a title like that, it’s a little dangerous to read “Attentat” on the bus, subway, plane, or train in full view of everyone. There will always be people who want to read the title of the book you’re reading, as well as see the photo or drawing on the cover.

Once again, it’s one of her very good books. But it’s relatively depressing, just like “Fear and Trembling.” Paradoxically, it’s also one of the books that made me laugh the most. But the overall story leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth, especially after finishing it. Once I had read the last few sentences, I was frozen in my chair, I looked up and stared into space for a moment, trying to put everything back in order in my head. I said to myself, “Ah… so that’s how it ends!” and I still don’t know whether I agree with that ending or not. The title came back to me and I thought to myself that it did indeed make sense. Not so obvious, though!

I’ve often read Amélie’s books in two or three days… but I feel like this one took forever. There are so many details, always interesting dialogues, moments of sadness and disappointment. Maybe I was just reading at the time, whereas now I read in small doses over several days. But it still seems quite long to me compared to many others.

What is ugliness? The main character is ugly, and he revels in it! He loves seeing terrified, repulsed, ashamed, voyeuristic eyes staring at him. He revels in it all. Did he learn to do this, or has he always been like this?

Amélie Nothomb always manages to say good things about the worst things. She manages to speak with poetry and love about the greatest suffering and atrocities. You want to take some of her protagonists and shake them, as in Antichrista, for example. I was alternately spellbound, disgusted, annoyed, surprised, joyful… but as I said, it was bitterness that won out and took the prize. I am unlikely to forget this story. Just as I have never been able to forget “Cosmétique de l’ennemi” (The Enemy’s Cosmetics).

There are plenty of allusions and references. Notably to Oscar Wilde and his “Yet everyone kills the one they love…”, Emmanuel Kant and his Critique of Pure Reason, Baudelaire (whose “Petits poèmes en prose” I loved)…

Superficiality and objectivity of beauty, intelligence or abuse of attractive people, we go through many phases with these very accurate points of view. Should we have secrets? Should we confess our love to someone, even if we have no chance? Why do we sometimes defend our enemies? Why do we throw the love of our life into their arms? Human reactions and behaviors are so complex. Amélie manages to bring out the worst in human beings. Her stories are not fairy tales. Reality can be so dark, human nature so bleak.

With gory moments reminiscent of Stephen King (who has already managed to make me tremble and cry), allusions to mythology, and an interest in pornography and not just philosophy, Attentat takes us on a journey through memories tucked away in the corners of our minds and, despite a few dull passages, remains an exquisite experience that makes us reflect and debate with ourselves.