Less Than Zero (Picador Books)

I read Less Than Zero after reading American Psycho about a year ago. This is an incredibly powerful book with solid motifs and themes - it almost feels like a prototype of Ellis's future work. Clay's lifestyle, as described, is completely alien to me, personally. Still, Ellis is so effective at conveying the emptiness and the disconnect at the core of these youths' psyche that I cannot help but feel for them despite their overwhelming privilege. The plot isn't exactly linear, but Ellis manages to gets his point across nonetheless. Overall, Less Than Zero is an impressive endeavour for such a young author that I greatly enjoyed reading.

This I reread, after being swept by The Shards. It’s been a ling time.

What I remembered and experienced again: the desolation of the insanely rich narcist brats. The substance abuse. The emptiness, the pervasive, stiffling sense of boredom of those free to pursuit anything, no limits. Also: the glimpse of humanity.

I did not recall the viscersl cruelty that much. Even so, the language is mesmerizing, powerful.

This is not a happy book. Many books are not.

It is Flat Disheartening Frightening Cold Burning Hot An Orange Monster

Un portrait désespéré de la jeunesse dorée californienne au milieu des années 80. Il ne se passe pas grand chose dans ce roman. Le début est prenant, car original, mais on sombre peu à peu dans l'ennui. Marquant, tout de même.

25 years ago Less Than Zero was published by a 21 year old Bret Easton Ellis with reviews like "Oh, this is just nihilism. These people don't exist! There's nobody that rich and stupid and narcissistic!" (The New Yorker, June 1985). Reading it now, we all probably know self-destructive people like these. Less than Zero has developed a cult following and feels like you are reading a diary of a lost and unsure rich 18 year-old who come back to the destructive neighbourhood of his past. Though out the book you are unsure if Clay will even grow or learn from all this and it almost feels like he doesn’t.