joshtenet's review against another edition
One great thing about this is that the characters (more than ten years detached from Less Than Zero) have actually changed and matured, and this is especially apparent in the writing. I liked that! If only the plot was to that quality. It isn't. It's really quite bad.
And the whole book's thesis is very obvious (Hollywood BAD!!!). This is the same for every other Easton Ellis book, but here (and I think for a lot of people this was true) it's just starting to get grating. I really like Bret Easton Ellis's prose, but when all his books are basically the same thing in different skins, what's the point in reading them all? I don't know.
And the whole book's thesis is very obvious (Hollywood BAD!!!). This is the same for every other Easton Ellis book, but here (and I think for a lot of people this was true) it's just starting to get grating. I really like Bret Easton Ellis's prose, but when all his books are basically the same thing in different skins, what's the point in reading them all? I don't know.
nickdleblanc's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars.
Brutal book, but does a good job of providing the logical endpoint for some of these characters. The ending feels a bit rushed, but the mystery throughout is enough to sustain. I appreciated the short length. If I was BEE, I would package this one together with Less Than Zero and sell as a single novel as I don't think this book works without first reading LTZ.
Brutal book, but does a good job of providing the logical endpoint for some of these characters. The ending feels a bit rushed, but the mystery throughout is enough to sustain. I appreciated the short length. If I was BEE, I would package this one together with Less Than Zero and sell as a single novel as I don't think this book works without first reading LTZ.
soulpopped's review against another edition
3.0
a real casual menace to just “how hollywood works"
nothing ever changes (except the faces) and the beat marches on
nothing ever changes (except the faces) and the beat marches on
stefo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
3.0
Bret Easton Ellis is a sick and depraved person, he knows this, its made apparent by the fact that Less Than Zero relates a lot to his teenage years in LA, It seems he sometimes projects himself through Clay, the main character of Less Than Zero and this here book. Clay is one of the most cruel characters I've ever read, he has no redeeming qualities and despite being aware of his wrongdoings he continues to be a self absorbed prick, he doesn't develop, in fact, he "declines". I'm trying to put into words my fascination with Ellis and his books, even though I don't fully enjoy them or think they're all that special, there's just something so bleak and depressing in them, its kind of impressive.
As far as the book goes its actually alright, I really liked the more meta commentary at the start and the "decline" of the awful characters from Less Than Zero. The story was tense even though I really didn't care for Clay, in fact the story became interesting because of the results of his apathy and self-absorbance.
All in all I'm left empty. Fuck you Ellis.
As far as the book goes its actually alright, I really liked the more meta commentary at the start and the "decline" of the awful characters from Less Than Zero. The story was tense even though I really didn't care for Clay, in fact the story became interesting because of the results of his apathy and self-absorbance.
All in all I'm left empty. Fuck you Ellis.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Murder, Toxic relationship, Gore, Blood, Stalking, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pedophilia, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
dxisy13's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
fionnious's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good and interesting look at Less Than Zero 25 years on. Clay is still a knobhead but he has more feelings which is always refreshing. And mebbes he even has more money...
fnnbnjmnks's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good and interesting look at Less Than Zero 25 years on. Clay is still a knobhead but he has more feelings which is always refreshing. And mebbes he even has more money...
tomhill's review against another edition
3.0
We join the vapid, amoral characters of Less Than Zero twenty-five years later, this time in a reflection on the nightmare of life in the movie business as opposed to the nightmare of existence as teenagers of privilege in the 1980s. In many ways, these characters haven't really grown up or matured. They are all still pretty vile and shallow. It's interesting-- in the beginning of the book, Clay tells the reader that Less Than Zero was mostly accurate, especially when it came to the more stomach churning events, but that the book was written by someone else from Clay's point of view, and got many characterizations wrong. He claims he is not the vacant character depicted there...and then throughout Imperial Bedrooms, and especially at the end, he proves that he is perhaps even worse than we previously believed. Like any Ellis novel, this can be a tough read, but I also think he's making some good points about humans who lack humanity, and who no longer have the rather pathetic excuse of being spoiled teenagers. These characters have continued to make terrible, reprehensible choices and one wonders what exactly they're living for.
sarahshaiman's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5