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A review by kevindillon
The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Bret Easton Ellis is one of my favorite authors so this review had no chance at impartiality. I circled the release date once it was announced. I had listened to a little bit of the beginning on his podcast.
I loved it, I was frustrated at times by it, I was captivated and towards the end I found it surprisingly affecting. It's not for everyone and I suspect you probably wouldn't be reading this novel unless you're a fan of the author as lot of the history of Bret Easton Ellis the persona is baked in.
I thought at times it could have been shorter, could have moved onto certain events quicker but that might just be impatience. Also, the more I read it I couldn't help thinking: the character of "Bret Ellis" is a younger, wet-behind-the-ears version of Patrick Bateman. The obsession is the point with a lot of his writing and I think it can really depend on the type of reading mood you're if you want to read another section describing the various roads and highways in LA.
But the end, more specifically the aftermath of Robert Mallory's demise, Susan, Thom I really found affecting and emotional and sad in the way I like my novels to be sad.
Recommend for anybody that enjoyed Lunar Park and American Psycho and Less than Zero. This also makes me want to re-read Less than Zero.
I loved it, I was frustrated at times by it, I was captivated and towards the end I found it surprisingly affecting. It's not for everyone and I suspect you probably wouldn't be reading this novel unless you're a fan of the author as lot of the history of Bret Easton Ellis the persona is baked in.
I thought at times it could have been shorter, could have moved onto certain events quicker but that might just be impatience. Also, the more I read it I couldn't help thinking: the character of "Bret Ellis" is a younger, wet-behind-the-ears version of Patrick Bateman. The obsession is the point with a lot of his writing and I think it can really depend on the type of reading mood you're if you want to read another section describing the various roads and highways in LA.
But the end, more specifically the aftermath of
Recommend for anybody that enjoyed Lunar Park and American Psycho and Less than Zero. This also makes me want to re-read Less than Zero.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Blood, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Death, and Body horror