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jennipher's review against another edition
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
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
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Trafficking
Most of the intense scenes are brief but very extreme. Notably two scenes, where a video is watched and a scene at the very end.imanit's review against another edition
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
jonnybrick's review against another edition
3.0
A photo negative of a Beach Boys song. Little optimism, plenty of pre-Coupland Gen X ennui, lots of mindless drug-taking and, offscreen, the other side of LA. A book with its own soundtrack too.
trouserstrousers's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
traveltounravel's review against another edition
Better than I expected. And darker.
aezeum's review against another edition
1.0
Absence of plot development executed under the guise of a style. Self indulgent and lacking in depth.