Brandon's picture
Brandon from KCMO is reading Made to Break October 1, 2011 - 12:03pm
Less Than Zero
20% (10 votes)
Imperial Bedrooms
0% (0 votes)
American Psycho
47% (24 votes)
The Informers
0% (0 votes)
The Rules of Attraction
10% (5 votes)
Glamorama
10% (5 votes)
Lunar Park
14% (7 votes)
Total votes: 51

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest October 3, 2011 - 9:46pm

I read Rules first and fell in love with Bret's style. Read American Psycho second. I was utterly shocked, blown away and inspired. It was then that I knew I had to write. Thank you Bret for being my catalyst into this crazy world of writing.

Joseph_Falcone's picture
Joseph_Falcone from Maple, Ontario, Canada. is reading The Elemantary Particles by Michel Houellebecq October 3, 2011 - 10:12pm

One of my favourite authors. Read every single one of his books. I would say "Lunar Park" was the one I enjoyed the most. You can't really go wrong with Bret. A big influence for me. 

damoneorone's picture
damoneorone from Hobbs, New Mexico is reading Imperial Bedrooms October 4, 2011 - 3:56am

Totally agree.... can't go wrong with B.E.E... I'm actually in the middle of re-reading Imperial Bedrooms... I just love his style

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest October 4, 2011 - 8:34am

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.

william.c.cathey's picture
william.c.cathey from Georgia is reading What Is The What October 4, 2011 - 8:45pm

Glamorama was first book i read by him so im gonna go with it..over American Psycho for me.

Mike Mckay's picture
Mike Mckay is reading God's Ashtray October 5, 2011 - 12:05am

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.

Dr. Gonzo's picture
Dr. Gonzo from Manchester, UK is reading Blood Meridian October 5, 2011 - 12:18am

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.

Benedict Edwards's picture
Benedict Edwards from London, England is reading Hitch 22 October 5, 2011 - 7:00am

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. 

PrincessofPersia's picture
PrincessofPersia from Jersey is reading Ella Minnow Pea October 5, 2011 - 8:08am

I almost picked Glamorama, but American Psycho just completely blew me away, so that got my vote. 

Pete's picture
Pete from Detroit is reading Red Dragon October 6, 2011 - 8:09pm

I read them in order.  So maybe I have a fondness for Less Than Zero because I believe I was the same age he was when I read it.  Or maybe just because it was my first.  And it hasn't lost anything each time I reread it.

.'s picture
. October 6, 2011 - 11:54pm

I've heard bad things about Glamorama but I guess I'll just have to read it myself to find out. Same with Imperial Bedrooms but I'll read them.

Pete's picture
Pete from Detroit is reading Red Dragon October 7, 2011 - 3:38am

I loved Glamorama.  It was a little hard to get into at first, but I really liked the story and how it was written.

D Michael Hardy's picture
D Michael Hardy from Tampa, FL October 8, 2011 - 11:22am

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.

JordanJGriffin's picture
JordanJGriffin from Fresno, CA is reading William T. Vollmann - You Bright and Risen Angels October 8, 2011 - 8:58pm

American Psycho was my first B.E.E. book and still my favorite.

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words December 24, 2011 - 10:08am

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?

PopeyeDoyle's picture
PopeyeDoyle December 24, 2011 - 10:24am

@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.

Hetch Litman's picture
Hetch Litman from Somewhere in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest is reading The Violent Bear it Away by Flannery O'Connor December 24, 2011 - 10:33am

American Psycho was my first B.E.E. book and still my favorite.

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words December 24, 2011 - 10:37am

@Hetch - why? what about it makes it your favourite?

Brian Ingham's picture
Brian Ingham from Stillwater Oklahoma is reading There is No Year by. Blake Butler December 24, 2011 - 10:42am

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's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words December 24, 2011 - 10:43am

@Brian - you mention that every one of them brings something new, like what, for example?

please, somebody, throw me a line here.

PopeyeDoyle's picture
PopeyeDoyle December 24, 2011 - 10:53am

@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.

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words December 24, 2011 - 11:13am

@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).

PopeyeDoyle's picture
PopeyeDoyle December 24, 2011 - 11:19am

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.

.'s picture
. December 24, 2011 - 12:09pm

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. 

Brian Ingham's picture
Brian Ingham from Stillwater Oklahoma is reading There is No Year by. Blake Butler December 24, 2011 - 5:17pm

Read the first chapter of Lunar Park and you will be hooked, guaranteed. It's amazing.

Profunda Saint-Sylvain's picture
Profunda Saint-... from Calgary, AB is reading Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series December 24, 2011 - 6:17pm

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? ;)

.'s picture
. December 24, 2011 - 9:52pm

BEE seems to be a take it or leave it kind of author. 

wickedvoodoo's picture
wickedvoodoo from Mansfield, England is reading stuff. December 25, 2011 - 4:21am

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.

Flaminia Ferina's picture
Flaminia Ferina from Umbria is reading stuff December 25, 2011 - 7:40am

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.

Jay.SJ's picture
Jay.SJ from London is reading Warmed and Bound December 25, 2011 - 8:35am

I liked the informers too. Sometimes the style cold get repetitive if all the stories are read in quick succession but otherwise it's great.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest December 25, 2011 - 10:20am

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.

Liana's picture
Liana from Romania and Texas is reading Naked Lunch December 25, 2011 - 10:33am

I only read Less than Zero, and it's my favorite of his too. But I'll get to the others at some point. Saw the movies though.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. December 25, 2011 - 12:51pm

I like the book about the rich people who do drugs, have lots of sex and get involved in psychotic encounters and one of them is a sociopath.