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michaelgardner's review against another edition
3.0
I was deeply engrossed and enjoyed this book enormously, until I didn't. The first two-thirds is a paradoxical emotional yet emotionally numbed-sentimental, glossy 80's revisit blown open in hi-def clarity while traveling along the glamorous drug fueled LA highways and byways (dj'ed with all the grooviest hits) aesthetic, that are then gnarled on by the wild and unchaperoned teens. This much was a great get-away. The remaining third forces the subjectivity: "whodunnit?!," which seemed to overwhelm the author of the book, taking the reader on a rather empty and convoluted hunt. Too much misdirection and empty promises that just don't pay off, and unfortunately underwhelm.
SPOILER ALERT: There isn't one.
SPOILER ALERT: There isn't one.
evierae's review against another edition
5.0
So fun! I saw a review that said it feels like Euphoria x Scream. Accurate.
dannymidnight's review against another edition
4.0
This book had a very strong start and established its tone and recurring imagery quite well. I enjoyed the tone of the book. It felt like gossiping with your beastie while watching 80's teen movies and slashers. And I particularly enjoyed the omnipresent pop culture references. It really grounded the story in a specific place and time.
I do feel like it dragged towards the end. I had little interest in Bret's relationship with Tom. Also, the intentionally stumbling and indirect dialog felt more and more frustrating as the book reached its climax. Maybe that wad the point, but I gad a hard time staying engaged while the suspense ramped.
I do feel like it dragged towards the end. I had little interest in Bret's relationship with Tom. Also, the intentionally stumbling and indirect dialog felt more and more frustrating as the book reached its climax. Maybe that wad the point, but I gad a hard time staying engaged while the suspense ramped.
wolf_dealer's review against another edition
5.0
So on the plus side, there are some great passages that felt genuinely unnerving read, and imagery that will stick with me for a while to come. It is at times very tense, and you get a really good sense of both isolation and paranoia from the perspective of the protagonist Bret.
It is however, much longer than it should or needed be. There is a general sense while reading that there are two different novels inside competing with each other. Neither one winning out over the other, leading to a rather flat ending. Any good pacing the story has built comes to a halt when characters talk to one another, as the interaction often boils down to asking each other the same redundant questions without actually saying anything of real importance or substance.
But one could argue that’s the point. It’s a story told from the perspective of an unreliable protagonist described by an unreliable narrator/author, about the horrific events that befell a group of students in the 80s. It’s not a book with answers or reasons, it is a story of guilt, lust, anger, and lies.
What you get out of it, besides the brief thrills, is based on how much you’re willing to interpret and analyse, so mileage may vary.
It is however, much longer than it should or needed be. There is a general sense while reading that there are two different novels inside competing with each other. Neither one winning out over the other, leading to a rather flat ending. Any good pacing the story has built comes to a halt when characters talk to one another, as the interaction often boils down to asking each other the same redundant questions without actually saying anything of real importance or substance.
But one could argue that’s the point. It’s a story told from the perspective of an unreliable protagonist described by an unreliable narrator/author, about the horrific events that befell a group of students in the 80s. It’s not a book with answers or reasons, it is a story of guilt, lust, anger, and lies.
What you get out of it, besides the brief thrills, is based on how much you’re willing to interpret and analyse, so mileage may vary.
plugsandpizza's review against another edition
2.0
I have such mixed feelings about this one. I guess I just expected it to be more plot driven, and not written like Ellis is constantly pining for 1980’s Los Angeles.?
Coming in at nearly 600 pages, the biggest focal point for “The Shards” are spoiled rich kids, frequent teenage sex (which in itself is weird given the author is not only in his mid 50’s, but also wrote himself in as the main 17 year old character), and our MC’s constant back and forth about being a “tangible participant” but also obsessing over who they believe is The Trawler.
There really wasn’t a lot of focus on the serial killer and the victims, the details we did get were repeated multiple times without anything new added in, the 600 pages could’ve been reduced to 250-300 if not for all the repetition and information about the daily lives of private school kids. It was just really disappointing and unfulfilling to finish, the ending was incredibly weak and leaves us with more questions & speculations than answers.
2.5 ⭐️
Coming in at nearly 600 pages, the biggest focal point for “The Shards” are spoiled rich kids, frequent teenage sex (which in itself is weird given the author is not only in his mid 50’s, but also wrote himself in as the main 17 year old character), and our MC’s constant back and forth about being a “tangible participant” but also obsessing over who they believe is The Trawler.
There really wasn’t a lot of focus on the serial killer and the victims, the details we did get were repeated multiple times without anything new added in, the 600 pages could’ve been reduced to 250-300 if not for all the repetition and information about the daily lives of private school kids. It was just really disappointing and unfulfilling to finish, the ending was incredibly weak and leaves us with more questions & speculations than answers.
2.5 ⭐️
elundh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
meleekatremblay's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
shellbeec's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Listened to this on Spotify. Absolutely amazing. I’m not even very into Thrillers but I was so addicted to this!
meadforddude's review against another edition
4.0
My first encounter with Bret Easton Ellis (outside of a handful of podcast episodes), and - although it took me longer than I'd have liked to get through it all - I ended up more positive on this than I expected I would early on. The "autobiographical" angle is more compelling than cutesy, the backdrop is overwhelmingly fully realized, and Ellis is able to generate a degree of suspense throughout that kept me engaged. He's also very frank and forthcoming with some of the descriptions here, which is by turns bracing and weirdly refreshing.
I started listening to this via the Patreon feed, and made sure to download the remaining episodes to catch up on after I canceled my subscription. I think Ellis is a fascinating character, and I'm always interested to hear his perspective on things (not to mention his almost alarmingly candid interviews with an variety of guests), but I don't know if it's like $5-10 bucks a month interesting. This serialized version of "The Shards" was why I subscribed in the first place, and it's since been published (in I'm assuming at least cosmetically similar form) for a one-time nominal fee, but I'm glad I encountered it this way. I don't think I'd have appreciated it as much if I'd consumed it all in one fell swoop.
Curious to see what HBO's impending adaptation will look like, especially since there are elements of this which feel ripe for a continued attempt to court the demographics that have tuned in for "Euphoria."
I started listening to this via the Patreon feed, and made sure to download the remaining episodes to catch up on after I canceled my subscription. I think Ellis is a fascinating character, and I'm always interested to hear his perspective on things (not to mention his almost alarmingly candid interviews with an variety of guests), but I don't know if it's like $5-10 bucks a month interesting. This serialized version of "The Shards" was why I subscribed in the first place, and it's since been published (in I'm assuming at least cosmetically similar form) for a one-time nominal fee, but I'm glad I encountered it this way. I don't think I'd have appreciated it as much if I'd consumed it all in one fell swoop.
Curious to see what HBO's impending adaptation will look like, especially since there are elements of this which feel ripe for a continued attempt to court the demographics that have tuned in for "Euphoria."