New to me Author I'd never before heard of of the month post!

[Roseasharn]

Okay, so I just recently ran across Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis in the bargain section of Borders and after reading it, decided to read some more of his stuff. I read American Psycho next and then The Rules of Attraction,The Informers and Lunar Park. I have no desire to read Glamorama, so I probably won't.
Apparently these novels fall under the label of "Transgressive Fiction". And apparently I like transgressive fiction. (Yeah, I'd never heard of that genre title before) I enjoy Dostoyevsky and Burroughs and Welsh and Palahnuik. I approve of people trying to push limits in fiction, even though sometimes it makes me uncomfortable.
I loved Lunar Park. It wasn't perfect, but it was well done. I'm pretty sure I didn't like American Psycho (though the jury is still out, there were a few very good scenes) and the other three novels were just O.k. I probably won't reread them.
I guess what that says about me is that I don't like books populated with characters that the author doesn't even try to make you connect with one way or the other. Then again, if it is meant as social commentary, it is a strong message about the moment in time and the kind of people he is trying to capture. For me the the 80's and early 90's are full of love, my little ponies, alf and ear infections. Maybe it is safe to say I just can't relate.
I have a few questions for you: has anyone else read these books? And what did you think?
In the 80's, did everyone in world do cocaine? I was 1-9 during the 80's, so obviously I didn't, but jeez. Any time I read a book about that time period, people are doing coke like rabbits procreate.
With special reference to American Psycho, does anyone remember the uproar when this novel came out? It is a horribly bloody, violent book, but I took it as satire. Social Commentary. Not pornography. It wasn't the best book I've ever read. In fact, since the protagonist was so obvioulsy bored with himself and his life, I was as well. But I think that was the point, maybe? And if that's the point, let me just say that it should have been a short story then. I probably would have loved it if it had been.
Is anyone here a huge B.E.E. fan? If someone is, what is your take?

So, that's my first "New to me Author I'd never before heard of of the month" post. Next author: probably somebody I pick up from the Bargain Bin at Borders.

[Kim L.]

Okay, so I just recently ran across Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis in the bargain section of Borders and after reading it, decided to read some more of his stuff. I read American Psycho next and then The Rules of Attraction,The Informers and Lunar Park. I have no desire to read Glamorama, so I probably won't.
I guess what that says about me is that I don't like books populated with characters that the author doesn't even try to make you connect with one way or the other. Then again, if it is meant as social commentary, it is a strong message about the moment in time and the kind of people he is trying to capture. For me the the 80's and early 90's are full of love, my little ponies, alf and ear infections. Maybe it is safe to say I just can't relate.
I have a few questions for you: has anyone else read these books? And what did you think?
In the 80's, did everyone in world do cocaine? I was 1-9 during the 80's, so obviously I didn't, but jeez. Any time I read a book about that time period, people are doing coke like rabbits procreate.
With special reference to American Psycho, does anyone remember the uproar when this novel came out? It is a horribly bloody, violent book, but I took it as satire. Social Commentary. Not pornography. It wasn't the best book I've ever read. In fact, since the protagonist was so obvioulsy bored with himself and his life, I was as well. But I think that was the point, maybe? And if that's the point, let me just say that it should have been a short story then. I probably would have loved it if it had been.
Is anyone here a huge B.E.E. fan? If someone is, what is your take?

So, that's my first "New to me Author I'd never before heard of of the month" post. Next author: probably somebody I pick up from the Bargain Bin at Borders.

I well remember the controversy over American Psycho--Bret Easton Ellis is a literary genius; Bret Easton Ellis is a sicko. My reaction fell somewhere in between. I found it interesting, but not interesting enough to reread.
It does seem like the 80s were saturated with cocaine--it was a frenetic, money-making time, especially in S. California where I lived, and a lot of people used it as rocket fuel for deal-making, sex, etc. (Not me. I'd done all my drug-taking by the 80s.)

[staropeace]

Ears perk up. Sits forward and waits for Kimmy to tell about the drugs she DID take and the times she had*
Dangles Crunchie bar in the air*

[Bryan James]

I'm happy/sad to admit that I only have combative issues with legal drugs. Damn that caffeine!

'American Psycho' was a cure for the common stuff that I was reading at the time. I wasn't reading much of anything, to be honest. I was recovering from a 6-week "writing camp" (of sorts), wherein I discovered that semi-professional writers are dickheads that ain't be cut out for da teaching.

But my friend threw the book at me. Literally. I pulled a George Bush and he only got my shoulder. Mr. Oguntoyinbo and I met when we were six-ish at karate class; we became immediate friends, and proceeded to physically attack each other for many years. I always won. Baba"Tola" is old enough now to admit that. He does a lot of things, but his ("live") paintings can be found at babatola.com. I own the coolest..."Eggman."

But the book he barely tagged me with was "American Psycho." I read it. I creeped out over it. I probably had diarrhea about (not on) it.

I was very well-read (and barely published) at 18, but that book gave me the courage to really read. It let me know that I could write when it came due in my heart. It also gave me a short lived phobia of rats and an aversion to Brie cheese for a decade.

I cannot recommend anything else he's written, because I have not read extraneous material outside the current discussion parameters. I love Jamie Gertz in "Less Than Zero," though. I dig her in everything, though, so don't consider that a reason to go rent the movie.

BJS

[JohnDalglish]

In the 80's, did everyone in world do cocaine?

Hi,

Only those who could afford it, way back then when it was very expensive (unlike now).

It used to be said that cocaine was God's way of telling you that you'd too much money.

And there's certainly far more cocaine used now (in the UK at least) than there was in the 80's.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Roseasharn]

But the book he barely tagged me with was "American Psycho." I read it. I creeped out over it. I probably had diarrhea about (not on) it.

I was very well-read (and barely published) at 18, but that book gave me the courage to really read. It let me know that I could write when it came due in my heart. It also gave me a short lived phobia of rats and an aversion to Brie cheese for a decade.

I found myself reading quickly through the violence and then ending up having to reread it because I couldn't figure out how some of it was possible. Including the rat.

It did make me nauseous.

[Roseasharn]

Hi,

Only those who could afford it, way back then when it was very expensive (unlike now).

It used to be said that cocaine was God's way of telling you that you'd too much money.

And there's certainly far more cocaine used now (in the UK at least) than there was in the 80's.

Long days and pleasant nights

Drugs past pot sort of baffle me. I think I just find it difficult to understand why anyone would want to do them. They're expensive. They put you out of control. Getting caught doing them if you have kids can be disasterous. I guess, despite my addictions to caffeine and nicotine, I don't much understand addiction. So it always kind of weirds me out when everyone in a movie or a book is doing drugs.

I wonder if there is more cocaine use here, now. Because from what I gather from my nefarious sources, it is much cheaper these days.

[Kim L.]

Ears perk up. Sits forward and waits for Kimmy to tell about the drugs she DID take and the times she had*
Dangles Crunchie bar in the air*

A long story for a later day around the campfire.

[staropeace]

I got candy.