I just re-read Imperial Bedrooms for the third time last month. Read Lunar Park for the second time about six months ago and at least once a year I read American Psycho for pure entertainment value. I've read every one of his books at least twice. Rules, at least a dozen times.
His first book I read was The Rules of Attraction, movie was okay but great book maybe a bit confusing if you're not paying attention to certain details. I'm trying American Psycho right now and it's funny as hell I love it despite that he has to spend 4 sentences describing what people wear and that's cool with me though he only describes them through the brands they wear so the constant name drop is mildly annoying. All in my opinion of course.
On another note why hasn't Imperial Bedrooms been voted yet? Since people currently reading BEE are claiming to be reading Imperial Bedrooms with positive reviews too.
133, I can only speak for myself. I was tempted, but Glamorama won out. Ask me to review anything of his and it'd be positive. Actually, probably not The Rules of Attraction. I can see its pull, but that book really doesn't do it for me. It probably has to do with the multiple POVs. For some reason I don't get as engaged with an ever-shifting POV.
Glamorama by a long, long way. After a certain point all his books are amazing, but Glamorama is one of the most genuinely disturbing and creepy and funny and demented things I've ever read. The point at the end where the 'directors' began to make their entrance was utterly inspired. So good.
Yes, it's difficult to choose a favorite. I've read Less Than Zero about twenty times...it's the book that made me want to be a writer years ago and always a source of inspiration. Lunar Park is an amazing novel, and I could only aspire to write something a good someday. Glamorama was fantastic and complex. Rules of Attraction is my life. My favorite B.E.E. book is generally his newest, because it's a whole new experience. I'd have to say that while American Psycho is a truly amazing novel, it's probably my least favorite of his simply because of the tedious paragraphs about what everyone is wearing. I realize it's part of the character, but I found myself skimming through those paragraphs after a while. Still, Bret is my all time favorite, my "mentor" and always a source of inspiration and admiration.
BUMP
In another thread, there was a sidetrack (I know, shocking) about B.E.E., and myself (who've only read American Psycho) and some others don't quite get why he's so popular with the folks here. I'm asking this out of simple curiosity. I found the book alright, but nothing that would vault Ellis into the ranks of my favourite writers.
From re-reading this thread, I see that people like his style, but what about his writing, his style, his stories put him among your favourites?
@PostPomo - I'm also interested in what the big deal is with BEE as well. I thought American Psycho was the only one worth reading. His style is interesting, but nothing revolutionary. I understand that a lot of it is subjective (there are a few writers that Litreactor is crazy about that I think are strange), but I'm also interested in hearing what everyone loves so much.
I love them all. Him and Chuck Palahniuk are the 2 authors who truly inspired me to become a writer. I fell in love with Less than Zero in High School, and as soon as I finished that I read Fight Club, and from there I knew my life would never be the same.
I really don't think I could pick a favorite. I read them in order of release and everyone of them brings something totally new and different to the table. To be honest, I never much cared for The Informers though. My girlfriend says its her favorite and I never understood how but oh well.
My one complaint is(a little off topic) that he never tours anywhere near Oklahoma(damn Bible Belt) He always stays in or around LA and I hate that. I would give anything to be able to meet him. Hopefully he will write a few more books before he calls it quits.
@Postpomo - I'm not a BEE fan, but I will put in a word for American Psycho. I think it's probably the best satire of 80s yuppie culture that I've ever read. Someone who has everything externally that we assume that we want - money, power, women, etc. But inside, he's a monster that consumes and consumes while giving nothing back. He only takes. Aesthetically, I think that BEE's minimalist style really works here. The information dumps about Whitney Houston, etc. were fantastic and really helped capture the nostalgia I have for the 80s. Is it the best book I've ever read? No, not even close. But, it's very good and worth reading.
@Popeye - thanks for that - It's been a long while since I read american psycho, but I agree with your take. I found the Phil Collins riff particularly amusing (as I really hate Phil Collins - the cultural figure that is, I don't know him personally). I was in my mid-20s when I read it, so it spoke to me, and I was certainly into the ultra-violence back then, so it had a great deal of appeal, but I found that the endless repetition of clothing brands etc... tedious. I understand the point of the endless repetition to the point of meaninglessness, but still.
I'll have to take a look at one of these other titles. maybe Glamorama by the sounds of the posts above. I'm too far removed from his stuff to honestly say I remember it very much (although the 80s still remained burned in my memory like so much perm solution).
I read it in my 20s as well. I'm always shocked when I hear that people older than mid-20s still like transgressive writing. I thought it was just a phase that everyone went through....
I read about fifty pages of Glamorama and quit. Couldn't get into it. But, I will remain on the American Psycho war wagon, because I still think it's worth a read.
American Psycho was my first too. After AmPsycho I read Less Than Zero. My first initial reaction was: that was boring. Same with Rules Of Attraction. But then it started to crawl under my skin and I was re-reading American Psycho and Rules. Then analyzing his books, trying to understand his style, his voice, his subject matter.
I like BEE's books because they actually make me think. I have to shake off the thought of spending money on a custom tailored Armani suit. I have to ignore the curiosity of wanting to see someone mainline drugs (see the worst as Clay would put it.) My views of the world towards women, towards men, towards morals have all changed. The people I know fit the characters in his novels so well that its scary. This shows me that his novels are from a place of raw honesty, he sees the pain in the world and himself and he spews it down on paper.
I don't think it's completely BEE's books that shaped my view on things. It could be that this was bound to happen anyway at this point of my life. But the apathy in his novels and short stories put these elements of my life into perspective and helps me make sense of them.
If not for trying to justify blowing money on superficial things and ignore people's vices, I can at least enjoy his fiction for what it is. Not to mention, I'd list Ellis as one of my influences. He inspired me. He wrote shocking novels and never apologized to anyone they offended.
Okay end of mini-rant. I doubt anyone could relate to this, but that's my 2 cents.
I read American Psycho a few years ago, but really didn't care for it, TBH. I get that it was a satire, but it was almost painful to get through it, for me at least. Still haven't seen the movie, either.
I told a girlfriend of mine that I hated it, and she lent me Rules of Attraction, which, 5 years later, I haven't started yet. Eventually I feel like I should read it, and probably will, but not high on my list.
Anyway, I didn't vote, and this post was probably not in any way useful to anyone.
Merry Xmas? ;)
Rules of Attraction is one of my favourite books by any author.
The only BEE book I haven't gotten totally into is Glamorama. That was way too long. I still have Lunar Park to read, am saving that one for a rainy day.
Nobody voted The Informers? Heh. I know it gets a bit of stick but I quite liked it.
Why BEE?
I think he's a boss in heart authority and not looking away.
I can relate to what Jack's writes about the author's settings in a world of raw honesty. No one is innocent, so spare me your guilt, please - that's what I get from Ellis. A sort of sick feeling of redemption. He's got no double standards, he saves nobody. There's no hypocrisy in his depictions, no self indulgence or well, whenever he falls in there he does not pretend he didn't. You will be pulled in the mud until you see it, instead.
I loved American Psycho, Glamorama, Lunar Park and Imperial Bedrooms quite the same. I went with the first because Bateman's admissions at the end will be stuck in my brains forever.
I read Rules first after seeing the movie and was blown away by his style. Everything that Jacks said I can relate to. Then I read American Psycho and was even more blown away. I think it's his 'I don't give a fuck' attitude that I like so much.
But, Lunar Park was absolutely amazing. So revealing. And what I think really makes it great is that he satires himself. Love him or hate him, but you can't deny his influence. I love him, he'll always be my favorite author.
