America's Psycho

"They had made a movie about us."

They did. I saw it. Robert Downey Jr. and Andrew McCarthy. Jamie Gertz was in it too, although I keep thinking/hoping she was actually Jennifer Connelly. But that was before her time. That was in 1987.The movie was Less Than Zero and like in most cases, the book was better.

Imperial Bedrooms is the newest work from Brett Easton Ellis, a sequel to his equally drug ridden friendship twisted sexually charged Less Than Zero from 25 years ago. And it's really good. Julian's still getting himself in all sorts of trouble, Clay's still a pathological narcissist, and Blair's still spinning webs. There's still a ton of sex, a ton of drug use, and a lot of cringing at the viciousness of how these people treat one another, not to mention those they actually "care" about. Clay, Blair, and Julian are still the same.

What has progressed in 25 years though is the level of darkness Ellis has injected into the world, and psyches, and his former rich college kids. The book's not void of hedonism, sex, or violence, just emotion really. What do you expect though? It's L.A. And Ellis has been progressing into a darker tone over the years anyway, most noticeably in his last effort Lunar Park, which was as much an internal autobiographical headspin as it was a twisted external mind fuck.Again with the creepy birds. What is it with people and creepy birds?

While I for one argue Ellis's writing will possibly never be as uncomfortably brash as it was in American Psycho (a book I've bought, read, and thrown away four times now...something about possessing it just makes me feel...uncomfortable), I'm a sucker for his minimalistic writing, his web of mystery and  lies, and his sharp, sometimes hateful, greedy characters. And while some will write Ellis off as self-indulgent I'd argue it's that self-indulgence that makes his work come off the page with such a raw honestly.

Now available in paperback, check it out if you're into Ellis. If you're not, be prepared to be a little off put. Not for the light at heart.

And please don't read it online. Books are for turning pages!