Michel Houellebecq, Whatever, translated from the French by Paul Hammond, with an Introduction by Toby Litt (London: The Serpent's Tail, 1998, 2011) ("Obviously, I couldn't come up with anything to say, but I returned to my hotel deep in thought. It's a fact, I mused to myself, that in societies like ours sex truly represents a second system of differentiation, completely independent of money; and as a system of differentiation it functions just as mercilessly. The effects of these to systems are, furthermore, strictly equivalent. Just like unrestrained economic liberalism, and for similar reason, sexual liberalism produces phenomena of absolute pauperization. Some men make love every day; others five of six times in their life, or never. Some make love with dozens of women; others with none. It's what known as 'the law of the market'. In an economic system where unfair dismissal is prohibited, every person more or less manages to find their place. In a sexual system where adultery is prohibited, every person more or less manages to find their bed mate. In a totally liberal economic system certain people accumulate considerable fortunes; others stagnate in unemployment and misery. In a totally liberal sexual system certain people have a varied and exciting erotic life; others are reduced to masturbation and solitude. Economic liberalism is an extension of the domain of the struggle, its extension to all ages and all classes of society. Sexual liberalism is likewise an extension of the domain of the struggle, its extension to all ages and all classes of society. On the economic plane Raphael Tisserand belongs in the victors' camp; on the sexual plane in that of the vanquished. Certain people win on both levels; others lose on both. Businesses fight over certain young professional; women fight over certain men; men fight over certain young women; the trouble and strife are considerable." Id. at 98-99.).
Joyce Carol Oates, Mudwoman: A Novel (New York: Ecco, 2012) ("Paradox: how do we know what we have failed to see because we have no language to express it, thus cannot know that we have failed to see it. That was the human predicament, was it?--the effort to remain human." Id. at 416-417. Also see Maria Russo, "The Ground Beneath Her Feet," NYT Book Review, Sunday, 4/1/2012.).
Lionel Shriver, The New Republic: A Novel (New York: Harper, 2012) (" 'Ever hear of the 'impostor syndrome'?' Edgar asked diffidently. 'It's a problem especially for professionals--doctors, lawyers. You work and study and aspire away and suddenly someone hands you a piece of paper that says, okay, you're a lawyers. A lawyer! And you don't feel any different, You know you're still that kid with a Spyder bike who shoplifted Ho-Hos. You think you're a fraud. It can get pretty bad, this terror of being discovered. Happened to me, I think-and I dealt with it by debunking the whole profession instead of just myself. If a former fat boy looking for love could be an attorney, bar membership wasn't worth much. I figure the impostor syndrome applies to adulthood in general. After all, being a grown-up is disillusioning. I guess being a fetishized grown-up is disillusioning in spades.' " Id. at 217.).
C. P. Snow, The Affair: A Novel (Stranger and Brothers Series) (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1960) ("He was innocent in this case. I had no doubt. And he had another kind of innocence. From it came his courage, his hope, and his callousness. It would not have occurred to him to think what Skeffington and Tom had risked; and yet anyone used to small societies would have wondered whether Skeffington stood much chance of getting his Fellowship renewed, or Tom, for years to come, any sort of office. Howard did not care. He still had his major hopes. They were indestructible. Men would become better, once people like him had set the scene. He stamped out of the room, puzzled by what had happened, angry but not cast down, still looking for, not finding, but hoping to find, justice in this world." Id. at 372.).
Alice Walker, Possessing the Secret of Joy: A Novel (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992).
