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lovegriefandgender's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lee_loryn_'s review against another edition
4.0
I thought this book was hilarious and that the vampire element was a nice touch. The audio version is great - snooty voices included. I read 'American Psycho' long before 'The Informers' and while at the time I appreciated 'Psycho' and in my own way thought it was great, this novel was also amazing, however different. The back-and-forth dialogue, where I could see people might become agitated and annoyed, had me laughing.
stewardii's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
As a reinvigorated defender of this man’s work, I have to assume this is the worst of his fiction (I now only have Lunar Park to go).
There are fleeting moments of brilliance. For me these were the stories that dabbled in the (yes, ambiguously) supernatural. I also enjoyed ‘In the Islands’ - but perhaps this is because I knew Tim Price from American Psycho, and learning of his strained relationship with his father and his introverted nature was revealing, knowing that he goes on to become an alpha male finance bro. His writing of men - damaged, emotionally unintelligent men - is so, so brilliant.
The truth is his narratives need the driving force of character. Because his characters are so often so similar by design, you need an anchor. Even if that character is a vapid nobody, it helps to perceive the world around them through a shared, continuous lense, and the anthology approach to this spreads the reader’s attention way too thinly.
There are moments of graphic violence in this that are not earned in the way they are in American Psycho. One in particular is unremittingly grim - worse even than in that book - and I just couldn’t fathom why it was there. It didn’t make me think enough to justify its making me feel the way it did. Conversely, there is a graphically violent chapter which is by far the best in the book.
What a weird read.
There are fleeting moments of brilliance. For me these were the stories that dabbled in the (yes, ambiguously) supernatural. I also enjoyed ‘In the Islands’ - but perhaps this is because I knew Tim Price from American Psycho, and learning of his strained relationship with his father and his introverted nature was revealing, knowing that he goes on to become an alpha male finance bro. His writing of men - damaged, emotionally unintelligent men - is so, so brilliant.
The truth is his narratives need the driving force of character. Because his characters are so often so similar by design, you need an anchor. Even if that character is a vapid nobody, it helps to perceive the world around them through a shared, continuous lense, and the anthology approach to this spreads the reader’s attention way too thinly.
There are moments of graphic violence in this that are not earned in the way they are in American Psycho. One in particular is unremittingly grim - worse even than in that book - and I just couldn’t fathom why it was there. It didn’t make me think enough to justify its making me feel the way it did. Conversely, there is a graphically violent chapter which is by far the best in the book.
What a weird read.
moment2shine's review against another edition
1.0
Not my cup of tea. Difficult to read, frustrating in its constantly changing narrators. I guess when it came out it was shocking. It's one thing to disturb, but it's another to be completely devoid of hope and redemption. Some people enjoy this depressing stuff, but I am just not one of them. I am curious to see the panned big-screen adaptation, just to see how they pulled it off.
charlottedando's review
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
ngbarfield's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
phoff00000's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
msalexisshea's review against another edition
3.0
Incredibly disturbing, yet humorous. This book is pretty much like every other book Ellis writes but I kind of like that I know what to expect. Its not the best book you'll ever read but its not the worst. I just really like stories about drug addicted, disaffected youth. I don't know why I find them appealing, but I do!