Reviews

Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis

lit_with_linds's review against another edition

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4.0

I have no idea why I liked this book, but I couldn’t put it down. I hated and liked it at the same time

pissarra's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

raphael_rocha's review against another edition

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dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

carla_805's review against another edition

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1.0

80's era, rich teens from Beverly Hills doing drugs and partying. Blah Blah Blah.....
I was so disappointed to find that the movie was way...... better than the book!

briangodsey's review against another edition

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4.0

I'm surprised how unrefined the grammar and usage were, but I'm saing that only because it has a favorable quote from The New Yorker on the cover and because it's the book that made Ellis an overnight success. I guess I expected more. One the other hand, the images are powerful, but it felt like an extended short story that had yet to develop into American Psycho, or alternatively, this story showed a bit of Patrick Bateman from the outside.

I also want to note that more than one scene reminded me of the movie American Psycho, particularly "If I don't see you before then, have a good one," which was obviously used in AP the movie, but I can't remember if it was in the book, too.

jennipher's review against another edition

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4.0

Like the character in this book, I went to high school in California and have since relocated to the east coast. I love my simpler life but am prone to nostalgia and sometimes wonder what I am missing by being so far removed from that world. This book is the cure for that ! It is like a horrible car crash that you can't look away from. It is graphic and disturbing and although it is touted as a modern classic, I definitely wouldn't recommend it for mass consumption as it details some really grotesque events. However for someone like me who tends to romanticize a broken past, this title underscores just how destructive self-centeredness, apathy, hedonism, and over-indulgence can be.

sageyywageyy's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

beyondthevalley's review against another edition

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challenging dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"What's right? If you want something, you have the right to take it. If you want to do something, you have the right to do it."

Quickest I've read a book in a very long time... fast-paced and addictive. I really love Ellis's style and can't wait to dive into more. Truly upsetting by its tail end but guides you there in a way that is seriously master class. A condemnation of 80s excess and capitalistic greed, bled and bred by the parents into their children who want for nothing and therefore strive for nothing and, as Rip says, the only thing they don't have is something to lose.

So clearly an influence on Gregg Araki (who is one of my all time favorite directors) in the depictions of teenage ambivalence turned nihilism turned casual violence. Can't say I feel good after this but am still very glad to have read it, and for it to have moved so fluidly and quickly.

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imanit's review against another edition

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4.0

The apathy is terrifying but genuine which is the most frightening part. A solid book, the writing style was meant to be detached and show how detached everyone was, but I wish we knew more about Clay besides him being our eyes. Lots of disgusting scenes and moments that broke my heart but that’s LA

lenatveit's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced

4.0