Thread: Bret Easton Ellis

Has anyone read any of his books? What are your thoughts with his writings?

So far I have read American Pyscho and The Rules of Attraction. I am half-finished with Glamorama. For some reason, I continuely ask myself why I am reading this book, until about 70 pages in. I am hooked. Even though I find his characters nothing but superficial and without color, I can't help but to keep reading. I am a fan and will continue reading, but his works leave me thinking why I continue to replay these characters in my mind.

Best American writer alive. The styles he uses in Glamorama are just mind blowing. Towards the end, he really starts to use the movie camera thing more and more, and it impressed me to no end.
Psycho and Rules of Attraction are brilliant as well. The Rules of Attraction movie is great, surprisingly.
His newest one features a fictionalized version of himself as the MC (not gay, married with a family, alter-ego kind of thing). I'm looking forward to picking it up as soon as I find it in the library or a local book store. Or free as an eBook.

This thread probably belongs in the "Books and Authors" area, not the Lounge.

He and Jay McInnery were an eighties fad. He's a superficial glam-whore who uses schoolboy razzle-dazzle to cover his lack of anything to say.

They are both pretty totally over.

I found American Psycho refreshing at first because it was different. But then the novelty wore off and I was bored. I finished the book though, after a struggle.I much preferred the film.

I initially thought that too, but in Glamorama, just before I considered to lay the book down, it changed paths. I have been paying attention to the way he writes his mannerisms and his dialogue. I find many lines of dialogue or action to be very easy to see with my mental eye.

The downside of Glamorama is, he took too long to get to the good parts. Not finished yet, but I can't wait to get off work to begin reading again.

The only book I read was Rules of Attraction, which I liked. I thought the movie was a well-done version, although I disliked the elimination of the main character's bisexuality.

As far as movies go, I also like Less than Zero, which was somewhat prophetic about Robert Downey Junior.

I completely forgot about the bisexual thing. I guess it's still confusing to most movie watchers. Definitely lots of it in Glamorama. Whole shower scene with two guys and girl. Ew.

He's running low on shock value and doesn't have much else going for him.

Okay, brand names.

apparently he took whole sections of fashion mags in the 80s and transcribed them for American Psycho.

<---agrees with Lin.

Originally Posted by iceguy303

The downside of Glamorama is, he took too long to get to the good parts. Not finished yet, but I can't wait to get off work to begin reading again.

Yeah I got bored with it maybe a little less than halfway through, which, from what I understand is where it actually picks up.

I've only read Less Than Zero, which really threw me out with its first person present tense delivery. It was pretty bleak. I like flawed characters, but (and this goes for Chuck Palaniuk too) can't really stomach reading entire novels with a cast that revel in their own flaws. There's nothing relatable about them, and I find myself with no sympathies towards them. Clay and crew were just apathetic and unlikeable for 85% of the book.

Less Than Zero was written when he was 19 though, so I guess I can't fairly critique him. American Psycho does look interesting, and I enjoyed the movie quite abit.

A gimmick is what he has always been. He and Jay McInnery, another flash in the pan of the X-gens. It's like reading something sung by Pat Benatar.

American Psycho is brilliant. Definitely read it. Just be prepared for a bit of the old ultra violence. If you liked the movie, though, I have no doubt you'll love the book.

Ellis is one of the few writers who can really pull off first person present. It's inspiring.

And it's a bit insulting to mention Ellis and Palahniuk as if they're comparable.