A shame this is being downvoted, it's concise but in my opinion on point. I enjoyed several of Houellebecq's novel as an undergraduate, but when I revisited them recently I was surprised how superficial their social critiques are. You can get a lot more from one good literary essay than from his novels, albeit minus the deliberate offensiveness (misogyny, racism, etc.) with which he proves himself "edgy."

A Rebours isn't a perfect novel, but the image of the jewel-encrusted tortoise is a better passage than anything Houellebecq has achieved.

Have you read "Submission" yet? I feel that his works have been on a consistent upward trend in terms of "literary merit", and this latest book is very well-made.