The Bret Easton Ellis Discussion thread **may contain spoilers**

[Sydneyfan]

Seems like there are a few Easton Ellis afficiendos on TBY so......which of his books have you read and which did you enjoy most?

I've read all of them except The Rules of Attraction (which I'm getting to) and The Informers (short stories apparently). AP is probably his most memorable for me, but Less Than Zero is also wonderful.

[clewis]

I've read all of them, starting with Less Than Zero, which I found by complete chance at my local library.
It's still my absolute favorite of all of his works, with AP at a close second.

Did you like Lunar Park?

[Sydneyfan]

I've read all of them, starting with Less Than Zero, which I found by complete chance at my local library.
It's still my absolute favorite of all of his works, with AP at a close second.

Did you like Lunar Park?


Yes, I did, although I wouldn't say it's one of his best. The premise is great and the plot moves at a gallop for most of the book. I thought it lost its way at the end a little though.

I thought the killer toy angle got a little too overplayed and the resolution wasn't quite as satisfying as I would have liked.

I've just finished Glamorama, which I found to be probably his most challenging, plot-wise. Did you enjoy it?

[nakedlune]

This is the first time i've written anything and everyone is probably gonna hate me after this.
However, back in the 80's, i read less than zero, and rules of attraction, and stuff by Jay McInerney or whatever. At that period i romantisized the 20's and viewed the 80's and these writers as a return to that tradition--Hemingway, Fitzgerald--
i never made it through AP, and i tried. things had changed in my world view by then. i found it utterly unreadable--vacuous and disturbindly superficial--probably the point--maybe a fairly accurate comment on american societal value and the consequences--nevertheless, not good writing.
Having said that, contrast his work with ryan's--which i think is the opposite of ellis's work (that i've read). "i went to the diner for a plate of eggs...."
isn't it ironic how we can appreciate contradictions?

[clewis]

Yes, I definitely enjoyed Glamorama despite the incrediblly complicated plot. But all in all, I thought it was once again a fantastic piece of black humor/satire.

What do you think of all of the movie adaptations?

[Sydneyfan]

This is the first time i've written anything and everyone is probably gonna hate me after this.
However, back in the 80's, i read less than zero, and rules of attraction, and stuff by Jay McInerney or whatever. At that period i romantisized the 20's and viewed the 80's and these writers as a return to that tradition--Hemingway, Fitzgerald--
i never made it through AP, and i tried. things had changed in my world view by then. i found it utterly unreadable--vacuous and disturbindly superficial--probably the point--maybe a fairly accurate comment on american societal value and the consequences--nevertheless, not good writing.
Having said that, contrast his work with ryan's--which i think is the opposite of ellis's work (that i've read). "i went to the diner for a plate of eggs...."
isn't it ironic how we can appreciate contradictions?


Haha, nobody is going to hate you for having an opinion. I know quite a few people who loathe AP, usually for the same reasons you mentioned. For me, I think the vapidness of the novel is entirely the point. Bateman exists in a world that is entirely superficial and without emotion. Fantasy provides him with his only opportunity to feel anything at all. Like most satire, the plot is absurdist in tone and larger than life.

I think AP is wonderfully written, but its not a style or a subject matter that is going to suit everyone.

[Sydneyfan]

Yes, I definitely enjoyed Glamorama despite the incrediblly complicated plot. But all in all, I thought it was once again a fantastic piece of black humor/satire.

What do you think of all of the movie adaptations?

I've only seen AP - which I thought was wonderful and Less Than Zero, which was only so-so.

I just Wikied Ellis and it looks like he's writing a sequel to Less Than Zero, due out in 2008. :upyours

[nakedlune]

sydneyfan--thanks for being so kind.
"entirely superficial and without emotion"--maybe that's why i couldn't get through it. Maybe i think its poorly written is because that the style is satire. maybe i'll try again. i may have been confusing content and form. And again i want to say that the reason i love ra/cardinals is because they/he stays so close to what is real, which was very refreshing yet painful, having come out of the 80's. at least ryan, regardless of his personal problems, in his art, stayed very close to his emotions and what was "relatively" real.
oh, i loved less than zero. and well written

[clewis]

I've only seen AP - which I thought was wonderful and Less Than Zero, which was only so-so.

I just Wikied Ellis and it looks like he's writing a sequel to Less Than Zero, due out in 2008. :upyours

Hmm. Do you think it'd be catching up with Clay now or just sort of picking up right where it left off?

And the Rules of Attraction movie is decent. I probably need to NetFlix it soon since it's been so long.

[Sydneyfan]

Hmm. Do you think it'd be catching up with Clay now or just sort of picking up right where it left off?

And the Rules of Attraction movie is decent. I probably need to NetFlix it soon since it's been so long.

I don't know, either scenario would work. I just hope the sequel is because the author has more to tell or a fresh perspective - not just that he is running out of ideas.

[Sydneyfan]

btw, question about Glamorama. I think this one blurred the line between reality and fantasy more than any of his other novels.

So, for those who've read it, what do you think about the "doubles" that seemed to populate the novel? Were there actually doubles, or was it just another motif highlighting the shallowness of Victor's world? Its puzzling me.

[hildegoat]

I've only read American Psycho and Less Than Zero. I think I made it part-way through The Rules Of Attraction, so I'll have to take that off my shelf next.