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nickclenton's review against another edition
5.0
Another great book from a great author! This book, like the others had me sucked in and guessing how it was all going to end till the very end. The way Bret eastern Ellis is able to insert himself into a book and make you think that this is his life is fantastic.
Give this book a go. But it might not be for everyone.
Give this book a go. But it might not be for everyone.
shmadsie's review against another edition
5.0
Ugh. I liked this in the same way I liked something like Uncut Gems - it was wonderful, propulsive, filled with a flawed protagonist making bad choices that compelled the narrative along more than anything else, and I don't even want to so much as think about it again. It was just relentless suspense, even when the stakes were relatively low, when the stakes were just: Bret, you're going to make people look at you weird if you keep going with this. I was tense for this entire book. Just tense. The same way you keep yelling at Howard to stop. fucking. gambling. in Uncut Gems, I was doing the same thing with all of the many, many drugs everyone was doing, all of the time. But especially Bret. Just help yourselves, be in a clear headspace, stop being so distant and weird and prone to eruption, for the love of all that's holy!
elissalynn's review against another edition
3.0
If I rated this book before it ended, it would be a four star. But it does conclude, and it’s sometimes tonally confusing spiral takes the Bret character, albeit intentionally, into a less satisfying headspace.
What makes this problematic is that it seems to be the whole point.
Bret the author shows his chops early and often and provides some great atmosphere, but Bret the (protagonist?) character is underserved in the long run.
I have to assume the often excruciating LA driving detail was akin to the sarcasm of the Californians of SNL. But somewhere in there BEE provides some cool settings that vary in effectiveness but are overall satisfying. Once we arrive at our destinations they are fun spaces to live in.
Characters are well drawn personalities but the physical appearances I couldn’t see clearly. They are too fantastical. Despite them all being blonde with impeccable bodies and huge breasts and pink butts I still imagined many of them as not blonde by necessity just to not be distracted.
A fun journey, worth a read, good concept and obviously talented writer, but the endings that might be are more fun than the ending that is.
Three and a half blonde stars.
What makes this problematic is that it seems to be the whole point.
Bret the author shows his chops early and often and provides some great atmosphere, but Bret the (protagonist?) character is underserved in the long run.
I have to assume the often excruciating LA driving detail was akin to the sarcasm of the Californians of SNL. But somewhere in there BEE provides some cool settings that vary in effectiveness but are overall satisfying. Once we arrive at our destinations they are fun spaces to live in.
Characters are well drawn personalities but the physical appearances I couldn’t see clearly. They are too fantastical. Despite them all being blonde with impeccable bodies and huge breasts and pink butts I still imagined many of them as not blonde by necessity just to not be distracted.
A fun journey, worth a read, good concept and obviously talented writer, but the endings that might be are more fun than the ending that is.
Three and a half blonde stars.
lumbagofio's review against another edition
2.0
Llevo +300 páginas y, aunque siento que el libro todavía está empezando, ya tendría que haberse acabado. El murder mystery y los momentos de tensión están muy bien pero duran 3 páginas y aparecen cada 50.
El libro sigue la vida de un adolescente rico estadounidense que piensa una y otra vez en las mismas dos cosas (su cuca y, en menor medida, los asesinatos que están teniendo lugar). Los diálogos son pedantes y no hay personajes interesantes. Parece que al autor le pagaban por repetir las cosas y meter una ensalada de referencias pop, marcas y calles random. Lo que lees en las primeras 50 páginas lo vas a leer también en las próximas 50, y en las siguientes, y en las siguientes siguientes con algún elemento nuevo (y así hasta donde llegué).
Es una pena que me aburra tanto porque la parte de suspense me parece interesante.
El libro sigue la vida de un adolescente rico estadounidense que piensa una y otra vez en las mismas dos cosas (su cuca y, en menor medida, los asesinatos que están teniendo lugar). Los diálogos son pedantes y no hay personajes interesantes. Parece que al autor le pagaban por repetir las cosas y meter una ensalada de referencias pop, marcas y calles random. Lo que lees en las primeras 50 páginas lo vas a leer también en las próximas 50, y en las siguientes, y en las siguientes siguientes con algún elemento nuevo (y así hasta donde llegué).
Es una pena que me aburra tanto porque la parte de suspense me parece interesante.
ritasotero's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
My first bret easton ellis book, but will for sure not the last. Just wow, exactly what i wanted to read
emmahegazy's review against another edition
4.0
it was a fun ride i guess but wtf happened maybe i need to actually read it again and not just listen bc i def fell asleep a few times. bc maybe the whole point is that there are so many shards of things happening at the same time but like why was there a cult a serial killer someone who attacked debbie and thom and also brett killing robert after what felt like a three month drug bender. i think robert was killing the animals but not the people i think the cult or trawler killed after
i think brett or robert killed matt but not the actual trawler and more than likely it’s brett
idk why this gave me a fight club vibe like was any of it real is robert even real or does brett have split personalities when he takes hella drugs like that girl from my year of rest and relaxation. bc if it was not robert how tf was the trawler using his uncles house for the murders like it had to be but who took the photos and who was the van and literally what was happening
when brett said he would make the book more palatable was that him saying like i’m not saying i killed these people butttt
also brett sitting on so much evidence literally the whole time and not saying anything i was like sure ur def innocent. why do i think he is def the masked guy also what did he make what’s his name eat?
brett was so down bad for everyone it was insane like bro stand up pls
HOOKING UP WITH ur gfs dad is wildddd in ur school uniform bruh
lowkey this made me want to do hard drugs
i feel like i lived a lifetime with these people not just one summer like this was so coming of age but they never changed ages. they felt so abstract in the beginning and brett detaching and playing a part was dare i say it really relatable. like the overanalysitjon of every social interaction. i’m def reading this again bc im lost and i don’t enjoy being lost.
i think brett or robert killed matt but not the actual trawler and more than likely it’s brett
idk why this gave me a fight club vibe like was any of it real is robert even real or does brett have split personalities when he takes hella drugs like that girl from my year of rest and relaxation. bc if it was not robert how tf was the trawler using his uncles house for the murders like it had to be but who took the photos and who was the van and literally what was happening
when brett said he would make the book more palatable was that him saying like i’m not saying i killed these people butttt
also brett sitting on so much evidence literally the whole time and not saying anything i was like sure ur def innocent. why do i think he is def the masked guy also what did he make what’s his name eat?
brett was so down bad for everyone it was insane like bro stand up pls
HOOKING UP WITH ur gfs dad is wildddd in ur school uniform bruh
lowkey this made me want to do hard drugs
i feel like i lived a lifetime with these people not just one summer like this was so coming of age but they never changed ages. they felt so abstract in the beginning and brett detaching and playing a part was dare i say it really relatable. like the overanalysitjon of every social interaction. i’m def reading this again bc im lost and i don’t enjoy being lost.
alisha247's review against another edition
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
5.0
truly the scariest and most thrilling book i’ve read! bret easton ellis knows exactly how to induce dread and suspense. the descriptions are unlike anything else i’ve read before - explicit, gruesome, disturbing and creeping. yes, this book is very long and there is a lot of repetition and pretentious, annoying characters, but i was completely engrossed.
hessensitive's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.0
An enjoyable read though the ending fell a little flat for me. Has the same apathetic, 'numbness as a feeling' vibe that Less Than Zero had which I surprisingly enjoy.