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karinaruizm92's review against another edition
5.0
Woah man, this book was intense. It left me sort of confused and wanting to know more about Victor's life. Easton is a freak. I like it.
ckrush's review against another edition
4.0
It took me two tries to read this book. The first time I just couldn't get past those damn specks, so I put the book down and moved on. That was last summer, this summer I tried again and was able to not only get through the book, but hungrily tear through pages as the action became more intense and repulsive.
The first 200 pages can be quite a hurdle considering the namedropping of celebrities and fashion minutiae. However, hiding under these lists are constant symbols or themes: ice, specks/confetti, and the narration unfolded as if the character is in a movie (or thinks he is). These details were intriguing, and kept me going.
Then the book becomes a thriller and Ellis uses his ability to simply describe an event better than he has in previous novels - referring in this case to the acts of terrorism (not wanting to give anything away).
This book provides a similar ambiguity found in American Psycho, while at the same time providing a similar non-resolution found in Rules of Attraction.
The first 200 pages can be quite a hurdle considering the namedropping of celebrities and fashion minutiae. However, hiding under these lists are constant symbols or themes: ice, specks/confetti, and the narration unfolded as if the character is in a movie (or thinks he is). These details were intriguing, and kept me going.
Then the book becomes a thriller and Ellis uses his ability to simply describe an event better than he has in previous novels - referring in this case to the acts of terrorism (not wanting to give anything away).
This book provides a similar ambiguity found in American Psycho, while at the same time providing a similar non-resolution found in Rules of Attraction.
jmcook's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
2.5
lindsirae's review against another edition
4.0
really enjoyed some parts of it but overall it was just too long for what it was. certain aspects were brilliant though, what a prescient gaze into our time of self-consciously content-oriented existence
spannydicer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Murder
astronautic's review against another edition
4.0
Quickly becoming one of my favorite books of all time. Doesn't make much sense but the lively conversations and characters are so entertaining to me.
ylvasorli's review against another edition
3.0
When I started, I thought I would rate this higher...
I do like to know what's going on when I read a book, and in this case I was SO confused - the entire time. After reading reviews and "glamorama explained" I do understand more, but I'm still confused. I also felt that this book was 200 pages too long, as I almost dnf'd it around the halfway point. It's also difficult to know what's real and what's not as he is constantly taking drugs and drinking.
As far as the writing goes, I'm obsessed. BEE writes in a way that makes me both numb and emotional. And I love the overly heavy description of everything. Although I don't love when he lists 100 names in one sentence.
Questions I have: (spoilers)
- The chapter count: why was it split into 6 parts, each part having a count down? except for the last part who counted from 1-15?
- How did they find such good doubles?
- Why did his father need him out of the country? as far as I could see he didnt even want to see or talk with his dad?
- what's up with the film crews? what this all a movie?
- during the bombings Victor mentions that not all the flying body parts are real - so were the bombings real? or was all of this just movie sets that reflects upon the overly violent movies at the time?
I do like to know what's going on when I read a book, and in this case I was SO confused - the entire time. After reading reviews and "glamorama explained" I do understand more, but I'm still confused. I also felt that this book was 200 pages too long, as I almost dnf'd it around the halfway point. It's also difficult to know what's real and what's not as he is constantly taking drugs and drinking.
As far as the writing goes, I'm obsessed. BEE writes in a way that makes me both numb and emotional. And I love the overly heavy description of everything. Although I don't love when he lists 100 names in one sentence.
Questions I have: (spoilers)
- The chapter count: why was it split into 6 parts, each part having a count down? except for the last part who counted from 1-15?
- How did they find such good doubles?
- Why did his father need him out of the country? as far as I could see he didnt even want to see or talk with his dad?
- what's up with the film crews? what this all a movie?
- during the bombings Victor mentions that not all the flying body parts are real - so were the bombings real? or was all of this just movie sets that reflects upon the overly violent movies at the time?
ulyssesogre's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25