it's my favorite book... i disagree that the negativity is without humor. that's a matter of taste, though, i guess. there's just so much going on in that book, and you can dissect it from so many different levels beyond just the general misanthropy. i've sat for hours debating with myself about what the end of the night actually is, and if it offers catharsis or just more pain and suffering. man... i know this is the buk forum, so I shouldn't babble on about celine, but after reading journey around once a year for the past 7 years, i just can't get enough of it.
plus, you have to give ceilne credit for really being the first person in France to publish a book with language like that.