Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis

13 reviews

adbeyneler's review against another edition

challenging sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Alcoholism, Animal death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia

joe_dmh's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Racial slurs, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Gore, and Homophobia

kelly_twardziak's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I first read Ellis's Rules of Attraction earlier this year and absolutely loved it, so I picked up Less Than Zero when I saw it at a used book store. Maybe its because I went to a small New England liberal arts school and have never been to California, let alone LA, but I couldn't get into this book as much as I did RoA. There were moments of levity and I continue to enjoy Ellis's sparse, in-the-moment style of writing, but overall this book was incredibly depressing and left me longing for Clay to be a more active protagonist. I understand the point of his character is his passivity and his complicity in everything around him, but it made for a frustrating and saddening read. 

Not a bad book, I understand why it popped off in the 80s, just very depressing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Eating disorder