Reviews

The Rules of Attraction is a wild novel. I finished it about a week ago, and I cannot say, even a week out, what I make of the absurd debauchery of this novel. Stylistically, the novel is quite compelling. It begins and ends with unfinished, incomplete sentences, suggesting The Rules of Attraction never begins nor ends, at least not in a conventional way. Because of this, the novel feels alive. I am convinced that the content might change if I started rereading the novel right now. Thematically, The Rules of Attraction is about knowability and the inconvenient but inalienable truth that everyone around us and even ourselves are unknowable. The Rules of Attraction dramatizes and stylizes this epistemological gap in existence itself. With all of that said, for anyone interesting in reading The Rules of Attraction, tread carefully. There are several indelicate references to suicide and substance abuse.

johnpaulgatenby's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

grunie's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

katiedevlin's review against another edition

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5.0

Liking Bret Easton Ellis is only a red flag when men do it. When I do it it’s cool and completely fine.

fleamarketed's review against another edition

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dark funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

jammasterjamie's review against another edition

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4.0

I enjoyed this book, though it's not as strong an offering as some of Ellis's others. The characters were very real and if you've ever lived on campus you know that the story is pretty true to life as well. I never saw the movie and I never want to, but the book is a good - if slightly mindless - read.

creativestalkerrs's review against another edition

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4.0

I'll say it, Bret Easton Ellis has become one of my favorite authors, his range from 'American Psyco' to this book, was amazing, and not to mention that these two books are in the same universe as we follow Patrick Bateman's brother, Sean.

'The Rules of Attraction' isn't afraid to talk about sex and sexuality, especially given that this book was released in the 80s when topics of sexuality, were taboo and hushed topic. Not only does Ellis talk of sex but talks of drugs, and the emotions that come with love and college.

Having characters like Paul being an openly bisexual man without anyone saying anything cruel to him was a nice and refreshing touch to this book (given the fact this was written in the 80s, and Ellis could have easily done this as it was the culture to be cruel to LGBT people) Paul was able to fuck both guys and girls and everyone around him being chill with it and not making his sexuality his whole character although it is still a part of who he is.

Since my introduction to Sean Bateman in, 'American Psyco' I was curious to get in the head of Sean as Patrick's headspace was {insert a word that would best fit Patrick Bateman's headspace here}. I could see how these two are brothers as Sean has some interesting views and thoughts on what was going on around him, but for the most part, he is just a horny college student who is in a lot of shit. (Also note, Patrick Bateman himself has an entry in the book, and compared to him in his own book, is an interesting read)

Overall, I have fallen in love with Bret Easton Ellis' writing and will be reading Less Than Zero next by him followed by Lunar Park.

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