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adambwriter's review
4.0
Glamorama is a twisted, disgusting, brilliant parody of all that was the early-1990s. This book is Valley of the Dolls meets Naked Lunch meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets James Bond. Don't think the combination is possible? Think again. Ellis demonstrates a superb understanding of cultural critique and is creative enough to satirize with seriousness and hilarity simultaneously. If you can get through the first two hundred or so pages of idiotic dialogue (another stroke of narrative brilliance, really, but still hard to wade through), you will be rewarded. Mid-way through the novel, the story takes an unexpected and inexplicable turn. Truly, the twist is never reconciled within the novel and the reader is left feeling literally mind-fucked. No one is who they appear to be, no one works for whom they appear to work (sometimes the characters themselves don't even realize it). Everyone gets blown up, drugged out, beaten, sodomized, and the smell of feces permeates the latter portion of the story (which takes place in France - coincidence or another cultural critique?). I don't understand the confetti, I don't understand the camera crews or the many, many scripts - but am I supposed to? "The better you look, the more you see."
booksnpunks's review against another edition
5.0
After finishing this book I went to bed and stared at the ceiling for ages just like... "What the f**k?" Glamorama is not only a satire of the film/modelling agency and celebrity culture, but also explores the threats of terrorism and surveillance. The first third paints a bleak portrait of the 90s high life. Victor Ward is a model, unsympathetic and shallow but represents everything about 90s minimalism and desensitisation. The importance rests on celebrity names - the only important this is where you are seen and who you are seen with. Yet this also opens up the terrifying possibilities of journalism and it's power over both celebrities and the mass public. The second third starts getting interesting as Victor realises he is in something bigger than he can understand, yet it is still shadowed under the saturation of celebrity culture that he is obsessed with.
The last 100 then completely messed me up. Like American Psycho, Ellis leaves you wondering if anything you just read even happened. Yet it is perhaps even more shocking than Psycho in its metafiction and realism. The references to the "camera" and "director" make me wonder if the whole thing was just happening on the set of a movie. I couldn't stop reading, honestly I was in absolute pieces, I still can't even deal with the intensity of what I just read. Oh my godddd.
If you aren't liking this novel then PLEASE stick it out for the last 100 pages. They are so addictive and Ellis is so clever.
The last 100 then completely messed me up. Like American Psycho, Ellis leaves you wondering if anything you just read even happened. Yet it is perhaps even more shocking than Psycho in its metafiction and realism. The references to the "camera" and "director" make me wonder if the whole thing was just happening on the set of a movie. I couldn't stop reading, honestly I was in absolute pieces, I still can't even deal with the intensity of what I just read. Oh my godddd.
If you aren't liking this novel then PLEASE stick it out for the last 100 pages. They are so addictive and Ellis is so clever.
belwau's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
xfajardo's review
4.0
Una de las mejores entregas de Easton Ellis. Definitivamente, no es un libro para todos, es una de las lecturas más confusas y en ocasiones abultadas que ocultan una ambiciosa y profunda intención del autor.
eric_peartree's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
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
2.5
wjnwhitehead's review against another edition
Funny, then serious, then elusive. I enjoyed it, despite the usual indulgence
kevina's review
4.0
Maybe 4/5 is too high. 3.5 might be more accurate. I preferred American Psycho & some others. Well worth the read if you're a fan though. A movie of it would be great to see.
msmagoo502's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
blonberg's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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