As an English kid reading this at the age of 14 it blew my mind. It gave me a glimpse of raw America. The shit behind the shine that is Hollywood. I've always loved American writers but Ellis was my first find. This book paints a dark and seedy side of a place where people have money and fame. There is no or very little joy in this story or the writing of it. I read it again recently and it blew my mind. X
I read both. I can’t really say which I prefer out of the “bored young men” in the two novels. You’re right about American Psycho having more humor in it, which makes it pull ahead in which is my favorite out of the two books. The unreliable narration of Patrick Bateman, the eating a canned ham with his hands and declaring that he bmw engine is the best of all, and his friend going into a tunnel to escape the club called Tunnel, those are all fantastic details that I think come to a more mature and older writer. However, I really enjoy Clay. When I think about Less Than Zero, I think about it in the context of our *personal* limits or grotesque. He came back home, and saw that his old friends basically have no personal limits. He finds his own personal limit when he goes to the hotel with Julian. He finds his own limit and then is pushed continually beyond his limits. I enjoyed clays macabre fascination with finding his own limits, his disgust at how his friends treat the suffering of others, and how his own affluence really doesn’t make him *that* much different from them. He’s horrified, but doesn’t turn down a party. The line about merging is so important to me when I think about this book that I’ll admit that the meaning of even the title eluded me.
I read both. American psycho is my current favourite book, period. I'm exactly like you in that I'm in the middle of love and hate for Less than zero. It's a good book but it did let me down a little bit. Not much happens except for the final few chapters, it's really just sex drugs and numbness. Which is fine if you like that stuff. I sort of like that stuff. I just definitely don't love it. Great review!
I enjoyed the Robert Downey, Jr. film, but it sounds like the book is a good bit different if my memory is any good. I also heard this author was buddies with Donna Tartt at a Vermont school when he was writing this book.
I haven't seen the movie but did watch a couple of clips from it. One of them was a scene that did not happen in the book at all and I've heard the movie is quite different from the book. I had not heard he was friends with Donna Tart but that makes perfect sense!
Have you read A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kenedy Toole I think. Maybe be wrong. A very funny and sad book all wrapped in a tale of 70's middle and lower class America. The author killed himself before his books were ever published. What a loss.
I read the sequel, Imperial Bedrooms. I didnt think ti was very good butg it does put the characters in less than zero in perspective
Interesting!
As an English kid reading this at the age of 14 it blew my mind. It gave me a glimpse of raw America. The shit behind the shine that is Hollywood. I've always loved American writers but Ellis was my first find. This book paints a dark and seedy side of a place where people have money and fame. There is no or very little joy in this story or the writing of it. I read it again recently and it blew my mind. X
Interesting to get your perspective of someone from away. Yes, Hollywood is filled with dark secrets that the movies and TV shows don't tell us about.
I was listening so intently to your review while I’m working. My goodness! Sounds like one heck of a book!
Oh wow, that's an old one! Ugh my hair!!! 😆 But yes, it is quite a book!! Thanks for watching, Flossy!
@@ShannonsChannel Oh, I think you look beautiful. Your hair is so pretty. But then again, you always look pretty.
@@TheGrapeJellyLibrary 💚
I read both. I can’t really say which I prefer out of the “bored young men” in the two novels. You’re right about American Psycho having more humor in it, which makes it pull ahead in which is my favorite out of the two books. The unreliable narration of Patrick Bateman, the eating a canned ham with his hands and declaring that he bmw engine is the best of all, and his friend going into a tunnel to escape the club called Tunnel, those are all fantastic details that I think come to a more mature and older writer.
However, I really enjoy Clay. When I think about Less Than Zero, I think about it in the context of our *personal* limits or grotesque. He came back home, and saw that his old friends basically have no personal limits. He finds his own personal limit when he goes to the hotel with Julian. He finds his own limit and then is pushed continually beyond his limits.
I enjoyed clays macabre fascination with finding his own limits, his disgust at how his friends treat the suffering of others, and how his own affluence really doesn’t make him *that* much different from them. He’s horrified, but doesn’t turn down a party.
The line about merging is so important to me when I think about this book that I’ll admit that the meaning of even the title eluded me.
Thanks for watching Lane. I agree with everything you've said. I appreciate all your Insight and thoughtful comments!
Now I really want to read American Psycho. Less than Zero sounds intriguing and out of my comfort zone!!
Oh yes, I think it's out of everyone's comfort zone! :)
I read both. American psycho is my current favourite book, period. I'm exactly like you in that I'm in the middle of love and hate for Less than zero. It's a good book but it did let me down a little bit. Not much happens except for the final few chapters, it's really just sex drugs and numbness. Which is fine if you like that stuff. I sort of like that stuff. I just definitely don't love it. Great review!
Thanks so much for watching! Yeah, definitely not a lot happening until the end on Less than Zero. I agree - American Psycho is SO good.
I enjoyed the Robert Downey, Jr. film, but it sounds like the book is a good bit different if my memory is any good. I also heard this author was buddies with Donna Tartt at a Vermont school when he was writing this book.
I haven't seen the movie but did watch a couple of clips from it. One of them was a scene that did not happen in the book at all and I've heard the movie is quite different from the book. I had not heard he was friends with Donna Tart but that makes perfect sense!
I haven't read anything by this author. That is super young to be published
It is. He has a podcast now, too, where he interviews other people.
Sounds like he’s exposing some of the elitist shenanigans that go on behind the scenes
Have you read A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kenedy Toole I think. Maybe be wrong. A very funny and sad book all wrapped in a tale of 70's middle and lower class America. The author killed himself before his books were ever published. What a loss.
I have not read it but have herd about it. I will have to add it to my wish list. Thanks so much for watching!