“I’m plague, I’m cholera, bird flu, the bomb, I’m the shit in your eyes, I’m a radioactive bitch, I’m a vicious little witch…”
Apocalypse Baby, described as ‘part thriller, part road movie, part romance’ (I mean, seriously, what more could you want?), centres on three women- a teenage runaway, the private investigator charged with finding her and the mysterious Hyena, an enigmatic woman with a past shrouded in mystery. The journey to find Valentine, a beautifully tragic girl with mayhem on her mind, takes Lucie from Paris to Barcelona and back again, all the while accompanied by the Hyena, a tough, street smart hellion with sex, drugs and trouble never far behind.
It seems appropriate to start this blog with a review of anything by Virginie Despentes. As a strong feminist, her work appeals to me greatly and her ability to write about women and sex, death and morality is always breath taking. What must be admired about Despentes is her fearless approach to feminism and womanhood. She is never afraid to be ugly, crude or violent in her description of the experiences of women and for this she should be applauded. Whilst her work may be considered shocking by some, for me it is brave and funny and deliciously depraved.
The story itself moves at breakneck pace and there is a sense of tragic inevitability about the outcome for Valentine, although, without giving too much away, Despentes has produced a finale which will undoubtedly jolt the reader into a nightmare of chaos and alarm. Despentes’ great strength is in producing well rounded, vivid characters and, despite the often extreme events faced by the main protagonists here, they are intensely relatable. Indeed, it’s possible to view the three women as being, perhaps uncomfortably, representative of many a reader’s journey into womanhood. In Valentine, it is possible to remember the feelings of uncertainty, the exhausting process of change and the burden and delight of burgeoning sexuality experienced by teenage girls on the brink of adulthood. Lucie reminds us of the conflict we all feel at times about our place in the world, the direction of our life and even the development of our own individual carnality. In the Hyena, we see flashes of the woman I certainly aspired to be growing up, strong and capable with a take no shit attitude. Her fierce acceptance of her sexuality, lifestyle and actions makes her a worthwhile heroine, albeit a very human and flawed one which is always Despentes style. Alongside the themes of transition and sexuality which feature heavily here, there is also the concept of morality, which Despentes plays with to great effect. The notion of goodness and indeed justice is expertly manipulated by Despentes, particularly in the character of Sister Elisabeth, whose wickedness has rarely been matched. The interesting questions raised by Apocalypse Baby encourage the reader not only to reflect on the nature of good and evil but also question their own stance on what is right and just in a world often driven by selfish, dangerous impulses.
This book will likely not appeal to everyone, however if you are looking for a fast-paced rollercoaster ride of sex, self-discovery and badass feminist expression then look no further!
For those interested in reading more by Virginie Despentes, you could try the infamous Baise-Moi. You could also try Wetlands by Charlotte Roche, a filthy entertaining romp through the anatomy of the main protagonist, haemorrhoids and all, although be warned it may change the way you look at avocados forever…
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