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A trilogy about a party that has spiralled out of control

Toast (Tox/Soap/Web)

Paul Mennes

Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. These are the weapons with which the young people in Paul Mennes’ novels tackle life. When Mennes’ debut ‘Tox’ came out in 1994, the author was immediately hailed as the standard bearer of Generation X, named after the Douglas Coupland novel. 

Still hip and cool and rock & roll
Cutting Edge over 'Tox'

In his second book ‘Soap’ and the short story collection ‘Web’, Mennes’ characters also try to get a handle on the tedium of modern life: with drugs as their religion, violence as their ritual and masochistic sex as their crutch. Nothing mainstream has any value in their view. ‘Toast’ combines Mennes’ first three books into one big sledgehammer. It’s a trilogy about a party that has spiralled out of control.

‘Soap’ is an easy to read piece of grand literature; funny and cynical as well as heart-wrenching and comforting
Humo over 'Soap'

Mennes received the Debut Prize for ‘Tox’. Ever since, he has been known as the Dutch-language chronicler of late nineties nihilism. Deploying cynicism and a generous dose of humour, Mennes depicts young characters who resort to extreme measures in an attempt to deal with the emptiness of their lives. ‘Toast’ offers a heart-wrenching and impressive portrait of a Lost Generation.

Hard, pleasantly crude and more topical than ever. His stories are on fast forward without the brakes on.
De Standaard over 'Web'