Glamorama

Rating:
Summary: massively entertaining
Review: Everybody has been writing that glamorama proves that bret easton ellis is past his prime, that it doesn't quite cut it when compared to earlier works. I strongly disagree. Readers usually get irritated with his name-and-brand-dropping, but that is the whole point of the shallowness of the 80s (American Psycho) and the 90s (although everybody thought that somehow it was a deeper and more meaningful decade). When the author tells us who is talking to who at which parties, the combination of celebrities is so preposterous and grotesque that one is forced to smile at this society, where celebrities seem to talk to each other, only because of their divine status. This is an extremely funny book, with very surreal characters. The locus of action includes some familiar places and names: New York as an island of bars, restaurants and clubs and not much else, Camden College and a cameo appearance by the Bateman brothers. However, it moves to Europe roughly half way through the book. Interesting contrast with American Psycho, the description of Victor's appartment is barely half a page. I do believe this book will be revered as much as American Psycho, once we all take a look back at the 90s and realise that it, like its predecessor, was a pretty ridiculous decade.

Rating:
Summary: Not what you'd expect
Review: When I first bought this book, I had no idea the twists and turns that it would take. Phenomenally written, I couldn't put it down. I felt sorry for Victor in the end, as he was caught in a situation with no way out. The end leaves you wanting to know more.

Rating:
Summary: I Still Feel Lost
Review: After reading and re-reading American Psycho several times, I decided that I would like to try another of Easton Ellis's books. I picked up Glamorama and started reading that very night. From the first page I was intrigued and amused. I love the author's style of writing and was looking forward to enjoying another Easton Ellis epic. About half-way through the novel, I started to become bored and lost. As soon as the mysterious film crew was introduced, I realised that this story was not exactly what it first appeared to be. I actually lost interest in the book and put it down for a few days, and then out of curiosity, I eventually finished it -but I did have to push myself. I'm still thinking about this book. I understand the general themes and the gist of it, but the story line really got me. I had no trouble at all with American Psycho, which is now one of my all-time favourite books. I understood it, I "got" the humor, as I am a huge fan of black comedy. But Glamorama...what the hell was going on? I'm thinking that maybe Victor was filming a movie on his experience with the terrorists and got confused with what was real and what wasn't. Does anyone want to help me out?

Rating:
Summary: Ambitious, yes, but very bloated
Review: I'm a big fan of Ellis. American Psycho was a pitch-perfect hindsight of eighties mentality. So I only expected him to imprive on it with his 90s novel. Not so. The premise is interesting: the usual cooler-than-thou neo-yuppie elitist gets sucked into a situation beyond his (serious lack of) control. We both encourage his plight, and then reverse our feelings when we feel he has had enough. Ellis is wonderful at commentary, but a little short on characterization beyond his central character. We paradoxically envy and loathe Victor from the beginning. His wealth, good looks, and success are enviable, but his astounding lack of real sophistication and intelligence is deplorable. Where this book succeds, it succeeds completely. Ellis makes his points very clear, and then abundantly clear, and then excessively clear. The major problem with the book is that I think it could have been cut by at least 150 pages, if not more. The first 50 meticulous party guest lists were comically legitimate. The next 100 were an overkill. But if you are a fan of Ellis, don't make the mistake of missing this. It IS a good book, and I would not have cut anything in the last third of it, but it certainly lags in the beginning and middle. I hope that this novel ends up as a protoype for something as concise and relevant to the 90s as American Psycho was for the 80s. But maybe he just needs the time to reflect. I'll be waiting anxiously.

Rating:
Summary: So good it's sleep-depriving!
Review: I cracked this open at bedtime a few days ago and closed it, finished, in broad daylight 10 hours later. Any book this addictive -has- to be good, enough said.

Rating:
Summary: terrible
Review: This book is full of characters about whom we care nothing, with a plot that makes 100 Years of Solitude seem clear and concise. It's pretentious, annoying, and completely unrewarding. I liked Less Than Zero, so I plowed ahead, thinking that eventually something good would come of this book, but it just gets worse and worse.

Rating:
Summary: Vile.
Review: After finding a small excerpt printed in a music magazine humourous, I decided to give "Glamorama" a try, and discovered why I hate modern fiction all over again.

The irony and satire in Ellis' obsessive name-dropping works at first, but soon loses its luster as you realize in five years noone will know who all these celebrities are, nor will they care.

Name-dropping aside, this book is absolutely repelling. Meant to be a satirical look at supermodel culture and the international High Life, "Glamorama" turns into a nightmare not even the Genitorturers could dream up. After the protagonist's original jaunt in NYC, the story degenerates into a jumbled mess filled to the brim with violent, degrading sex. Ellis' portrayal of women is nothing less than horrifying. The explicit sexual activity and useless random violence ruined whatever shards of "Glamorama"'s original murder-mystery plot that may have once been found interesting. By the time I finally slammed the back cover shut, I was sickened, confused, and ready to give up fiction for good.

Sadly, I can almost picture Ellis grinning at my reaction - in my view, this is precisely what he wanted the public's reaction to be. So don't waste your time on this one - give your money to an author who actually appreciates his audience.

Rating:
Summary: Spare Me
Review: First, let me say I loved "American Psycho". I "got" it. I understood the satire, I understood the reasons for the graphic depiction of senseless violence. Never had I read anything that so perfectly and believably depicted the inner workings of a sociopathic, highly intelligent mind. Never had I read anything that at the same time satirized what passed for "values" in the 1980's and took them to their horrific extreme. I've read all of Ellis's books and respect his ability, but I have to admit, "Glamorama" was a waste of my life.

I thoroughly enjoyed the viscious satire of the first few chapters. But I soon tired of the constant inane babbling of Ellis's two-dimensional characters. Even the pointlessness of it all lost it's point after a while.

Still, I kept pressing on, waiting for something interesting to happen; waiting for a plot; waiting for a character I could sink my teeth into. When something finally did happen -- half way through the book -- I discovered I no longer cared.

I read on anyway, hoping Ellis would reingage me. It never happened. When I finally finished the book after force-feeding it to myself, my first reaction was, "Dang, I'd better call Jen and apologise for sending her a copy. . ."

My advice? Don't bother. If you're looking for edgy 90's fiction, try Chuck Palahniuk.

Rating:
Summary: Reader beware..
Review: The book is about a male model who unwittingly trades his world of glamour for one of terror and terrorism...

Two reviews:

1: If you've read American Psycho: be warned that this is fundamentally more of the same, with the addition of more complex and confusing plotting.

2: If you haven't. Be warned that the violence and sex can be so graphic as to be literally stomach churning, without the ameliorating sense of righteousness that you get in something like 'Saving Private Ryan'. Also be warned that the plot is very unclear and you will most likely feel confused at times. The symbolism is heavy-handed, as many here have commented.

Redeeming features? Mainly the frenetically-paced and witty dialogue, the wonderfully imaginative prose. Love it or hate it, the book will certainly challenge you as a work of art if not as philosophy.

Rating:
Summary: A Shallow Character Treading Water In a Deep Plot
Review: Victor Ward/Johnson is one of the most shallow characters you will ever read about. The fact that the story can survive for the first 200 pages on character drive alone is a credit to Ellis. Ellis is then able to masterfully switch to a plot driven story which makes this book a true classic and a must read for anyone who is a true fan of books in general.