The Informers (Movie Tie-in Edition) (Vintage Contemporaries)

(88)

The book Bret Easton Ellis was supposed to write. The one I wanted when I picked up Glamorama, which was NOT.

The Detroit Press raved about how this novel was ultraviolent, which isn't why I picked it up, but it was most definitely misleading. If anything, the characters abuse of the body, be it the use of drugs or random sex with partners from a random sex, might constitute a form of self abuse but, meh, that's a stretch. Perhaps it's because my expectations were so different that...more

The Detroit Press raved about how this novel was ultraviolent, which isn't why I picked it up, but it was most definitely misleading. If anything, the characters abuse of the body, be it the use of drugs or random sex with partners from a random sex, might constitute a form of self abuse but, meh, that's a stretch. Perhaps it's because my expectations were so different that I didn't enjoy this novel, or perhaps it's because I failed to connect with any one of the multitude of characters. Either way, I was dissapointed.   hide

Excellent book, but not for everybody. If you don't realize it's a satire, you'll probably hate it.

Just lost a whole review again, by hitting a stray key. I hate WeRead. Sorry, this rewrite is terse. This book reads like a sequel to Less Than Zero, till the vampires arrive briefly, in chapter 10 (of 13), followed by the incompetent kidnappers, in chapter 11. Those two chapters give a giant jolt of electricity and make this book worth reading. Though still not a...more

Just lost a whole review again, by hitting a stray key. I hate WeRead. Sorry, this rewrite is terse. This book reads like a sequel to Less Than Zero, till the vampires arrive briefly, in chapter 10 (of 13), followed by the incompetent kidnappers, in chapter 11. Those two chapters give a giant jolt of electricity and make this book worth reading. Though still not a crucial BEE. The crucials are American Psycho, Glamorama, and Lunar Park. Don't read the last till you've read some others, as it contains important back references. Excerpt: Christie is eating Italian ice cream and telling me that Tommy is actually hanging out in Delaware and that it was Monty and not Tommy who was found hacked to death in San Diego, not Mexico, his blood drained, not Tommy's, like she heard, because she got a postcard with Richard Gere on it from Tommy but Corey was found sealed in a metal drum buried in the desert. She asks me if Delaware is a state and I tell her that I'm not too sure but that I'm really certain I saw Jim Morrison at a car wash on Pico this morning. He was drinking soda and minding his own business. Christie finishes the ice cream and wipes her lips with a napkin, complains about her implants.    hide

In my opinion, this book was almost overly gratuitous in the depravity of its protagonists (if they can be called such). The connections between the characters were too tenuous to be fully enjoyed. Since each chapter is written from a different point of view, the work ultimately failed in achieving a cohesive story. I understand that Ellis' forte is in depicting the desolation of posh...more

In my opinion, this book was almost overly gratuitous in the depravity of its protagonists (if they can be called such). The connections between the characters were too tenuous to be fully enjoyed. Since each chapter is written from a different point of view, the work ultimately failed in achieving a cohesive story. I understand that Ellis' forte is in depicting the desolation of posh urban life, but I found this pale in comparison to his other writings. I have no idea how this will be made into a movie, though I'm sure I'll see it just to sate my curiosity.   hide

The moral wasteland of L.A., with a supernatural twist

Another masterpiece by Bret Easton Ellis. Probably my third favorite Bret Easton Ellis book behind Less than Zero and American Psycho. Great imagery, though, slightly twisted and frightening. Leaves the reader asking - does this type of thing actually happen?