Less Than Zero

Less Than Zero

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  • Create Date:2021-06-20 08:54:42
  • Update Date:2025-09-07
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Bret Easton Ellis
  • ISBN:1509870156
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Summary

Eighteen-year-old college student Clay is back in his home town of Los Angeles for Christmas break。 Clay is three things: rich, bored and looking to get high。 As he reacquaints himself with a familiarly limitless world of privilege, along with his best friend and his ex, his shocking, stunning and disturbing adventure is filled with non-stop drinking in glamorous nightclubs, drug-fuelled parties and endless sexual encounters。

Published in 1985, when Bret Easton Ellis was just twenty-one, Less Than Zero is a fierce coming-of-age story which quickly defined a genre。 A cult classic beloved for its dogged portrayal of hedonistic youth and the morally depraved, this extraordinary and instantly famous novel is a landmark in modern fiction: an inventive, precocious and invigorating story of getting what you want when you want it。

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Reviews

Jonathan Bento

I was compelled from start to finish。 I simply could not put it down。 It made me feel utterly empty and I could not get into other readings for some time afterwards。 Not for the feint of heart, or those who are looking for a "feel good" experience。 Despite its depressing tone and its lingering emotional impact on me, I was drawn to it and am glad that I have read this book。 I will read the rest of his bibliography as well。 I was compelled from start to finish。 I simply could not put it down。 It made me feel utterly empty and I could not get into other readings for some time afterwards。 Not for the feint of heart, or those who are looking for a "feel good" experience。 Despite its depressing tone and its lingering emotional impact on me, I was drawn to it and am glad that I have read this book。 I will read the rest of his bibliography as well。 。。。more

Frank Woutersen

Just amazing

xdafuent

2,75 / 5⭐️Desde mi punto de vista la historia esta narrada de forma pasiva, es decir, te encuentras con un narrador que pasa bastante de todo。 Es cierto que en muchos momentos la historia se hace aburrida。 Pero tiene algunas escenas “duras”, y esas son las que mejor reflejan lo que el autor quiere transmitir acerca de esa forma de vida。

Mike Thorn

No past, no future。

Dave Kirschner

Bret Easton Ellis writes some real compelling work about some completely unlikeable characters。This book is a real downer, but it's told from such a detached view that you want to see where it goes, and then you realize the characters are following the same steps, not caring about the world around them, but wanting to see where it ends。 Bret Easton Ellis writes some real compelling work about some completely unlikeable characters。This book is a real downer, but it's told from such a detached view that you want to see where it goes, and then you realize the characters are following the same steps, not caring about the world around them, but wanting to see where it ends。 。。。more

Illona

This was a hard read, not because it was poorly written or anything but because it was hard to relate to。 The characters are all so disconnected from life and almost from the real world。 Which is probably the point。 The characters weren’t particularly likable, the only (very slightly maybe if I squint) redeemable one would be the main character but it’s all shades of grey。 I am glad I read it but I wouldn’t have called the read particularly enjoyable, I had to go and watch a Disney movie afterwa This was a hard read, not because it was poorly written or anything but because it was hard to relate to。 The characters are all so disconnected from life and almost from the real world。 Which is probably the point。 The characters weren’t particularly likable, the only (very slightly maybe if I squint) redeemable one would be the main character but it’s all shades of grey。 I am glad I read it but I wouldn’t have called the read particularly enjoyable, I had to go and watch a Disney movie afterwards to cheer myself up!! 。。。more

Daniel Jeudy

I am a huge fan of Bret Easton Ellis's unmistakable brand of satirical horror, which he first introduced to the world in his novel "Less than Zero。" The book's premise is really quite simple: Clay, an 18-year-old college freshman, returns home to Los Angeles for the winter break, floating in a haze from one meaningless engagement to the next。 His world consists of multi-million dollar mansions, luxury cars, designer clothes, drug-fuelled parties, raging narcissism, dangerously unstable friends, I am a huge fan of Bret Easton Ellis's unmistakable brand of satirical horror, which he first introduced to the world in his novel "Less than Zero。" The book's premise is really quite simple: Clay, an 18-year-old college freshman, returns home to Los Angeles for the winter break, floating in a haze from one meaningless engagement to the next。 His world consists of multi-million dollar mansions, luxury cars, designer clothes, drug-fuelled parties, raging narcissism, dangerously unstable friends, absent parents, flagrant hedonism, and a heavy cloud of depression that permeates through every page。It can sometimes be difficult to align with any of the characters because of the apparent nothingness that wraps them, but that didn't stop me from being sucked into their vacuum。 Readers should be prepared for the fact there is no love to be found within this book。 Bret Easton Ellis has created an ugly portrait of modern society, expertly constructing a world the reader can experience in an almost spiritual way。 There is a subtle restraint to the darkness in his writing that exposes the maggots behind the Hollywood facade。 The only hint of tenderness in the novel is Clay's flashbacks in Palm Springs before his grandmother dies, but even the past is narrated like a picture painted in rust。I highly recommend this book。 。。。more

Phthalo Gray "I ain't finna read that"

This should be required reading for high schoolers。 It's like The Great Gatsby but it doesn't suck and I'm too sad for every body to have contempt for them。 This should be required reading for high schoolers。 It's like The Great Gatsby but it doesn't suck and I'm too sad for every body to have contempt for them。 。。。more

Erin

Dark but doesn’t feel that far from the truth。 The feeling I get from seeing the voyeurism and “nothing to lose” attitude has stayed with me every time I leave homeBest quote is from Rip saying “I don’t have everything。 I don’t have anything to lose” or something like that

Sophie Hutchison

Not sure whether to rate 4 or 5。 So depressingMy toxic trait is that I love Bret Easton Ellis

Kaylin Wright

Perhaps this was a product of the time。 The lack of story along with the wild privileged teens set in an LA in the 80's doing random reckless crap was meh。 DNF Perhaps this was a product of the time。 The lack of story along with the wild privileged teens set in an LA in the 80's doing random reckless crap was meh。 DNF 。。。more

Bamboozlepig

Angsty novel that was supposed to be the "it" book for GenX。 Badly written and overly trite tripe about entitled assholes drifting through their rich world of drugs, banal parties and booze。 Even the so-called nihilism that's supposed to be prevalent in this feels boring。 Maybe the point of it was that it had no point。 Angsty novel that was supposed to be the "it" book for GenX。 Badly written and overly trite tripe about entitled assholes drifting through their rich world of drugs, banal parties and booze。 Even the so-called nihilism that's supposed to be prevalent in this feels boring。 Maybe the point of it was that it had no point。 。。。more

SophieBURS11

I thought about giving this only three stars, because I really enjoyed the writing but there wasn't much of a plot。 But then I realised, that that might be a conscious decision: to focus on the unimportance of the events and purpously not having an interresting, continous plotline。 The book consists mostly of unrelated events, that have seemingly no impact on the characters, most often especially the main character Clay。 Clay, just like all his other friends, lives in a world that many would dre I thought about giving this only three stars, because I really enjoyed the writing but there wasn't much of a plot。 But then I realised, that that might be a conscious decision: to focus on the unimportance of the events and purpously not having an interresting, continous plotline。 The book consists mostly of unrelated events, that have seemingly no impact on the characters, most often especially the main character Clay。 Clay, just like all his other friends, lives in a world that many would dream about。 Parties, Drugs, Sex, Summer and Freedom。 But somehow he doesn't feel anything。 I doesn't care about anything or anyone and has become so used to this crazy lifestyle, that almost nothing evokes real emotions in him anymore。 But the writing is what really makes this book amazing。 Every little chapter feels like poetry and the sceneries are described so vivide, yet so raw and emtionless。 You can feel that weird dissonance between the beautiful scenery and inherent emptiness of the characters' souls。 Just a good book, go read it right now! 。。。more

Felipe

Este es un ejemplo de cómo una mala traducción puede arruinar una novela。 Ha sido traducida en castellano y está plagada de localismos del "español de España" (como decimos en mi tierra, Méjico [como se escribe en el libro])。Le quita mucho no contar con un español neutro y el lector tiene que andar descifrando que "caballo" es heroína, que los pitillos son cigarrillos, que "tener el mono" es una cruda y un montón de otros términos que hacen que la novela en español, para un mexicano, sea indesci Este es un ejemplo de cómo una mala traducción puede arruinar una novela。 Ha sido traducida en castellano y está plagada de localismos del "español de España" (como decimos en mi tierra, Méjico [como se escribe en el libro])。Le quita mucho no contar con un español neutro y el lector tiene que andar descifrando que "caballo" es heroína, que los pitillos son cigarrillos, que "tener el mono" es una cruda y un montón de otros términos que hacen que la novela en español, para un mexicano, sea indescifrable。 ¿Joder, tío, que quién te manda a leerla en español? 。。。more

Christopher

It took me only 35 years to finally arrive at reading Bret Easton Ellis' Less Than Zero。 I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in the same time period, very near to where this novel takes place, so many of the area references here are *immediately identifiable。 I’ve done some of the things described here--although nothing really depraved--and I also knew some people in my own adolescence that were, shall we say, less exaggerated versions of these characters。* Including being unable to pull in a s It took me only 35 years to finally arrive at reading Bret Easton Ellis' Less Than Zero。 I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in the same time period, very near to where this novel takes place, so many of the area references here are *immediately identifiable。 I’ve done some of the things described here--although nothing really depraved--and I also knew some people in my own adolescence that were, shall we say, less exaggerated versions of these characters。* Including being unable to pull in a signal from KNAC--the truest passage in the book。 。 。 。If I'm being charitable, I could say this is a drug-fueled 80s take on the Lost Generation in The Sun Also Rises, albeit without the skill and presence of an Ernest Hemingway。 In both books, the narrator and a cast of characters are living hedonistic lives without a plot or a climax。 One of the many differences is that Hemingway wrote believably about the people he knew, whereas I think Ellis' characters are probably largely caricatures of the people he knew。It's in a stream of consciousness style, in which I could clearly imagine the author on any particular writing day saying to himself, 'Hmm, where should I go from here?' It's that random, that unfocused。 I suppose one of the strengths of the novel is that Bret Easton Ellis wrote it when he was a teenager, so it actually helps that it lacks the skill of a more sophisticated writer。 And like teenagers do, it has the air of a kid telling outrageously tall tales, constantly exaggerating because you're afraid of being boring。 I was certainly guilty of that, myself。This is Ellis' first novel, and I think it remains his definitive work—it's his mission statement。 It establishes all of the hallmarks of his writing and thinking。 He is obsessed with MTV, loud music, pop culture references, name dropping。 He loves fancy cars, fashion labels, chic places, the club life。 And he's into fluid sexuality, casual nihilism, spiky blond hair, tan bodies。 His niche is a veritable shopping list of indulgent subjects。Like Ellis, I'm now in my 50s, and I wonder if I would have been more accommodating of his writing if I had read it in my early 20s when the subject matter was closer to my life。 (Then again, I did read one of Ellis' Brat Pack contemporaries, Tama Janowitz, in my early 20s and was very disappointed and underwhelmed at her writing, too--so go figure。) But the years have given me more clarity in understanding the voice of a teenager, so I'm less impressed with that kind of writing as I've gotten older。The book is defined by its jadedness--it's like The Eagles' 'Life in the Fast Lane' writ large, but without the wit of Don Henley。 The characters are all bland, there are only the vaguest references to hair or style, but no real observations。 (Almost every male character here is blond, it's comically stereotypical。) The writing--appropriately, I guess--is mainly telling, not showing。 The narrator, Clay, does lines of coke, drinks, fucks, and yet everything he does is empty and boring, and he isn't truly interested in anything (which, yeah, seems like the point, I get it)。 The dialogue is limited and vapid--none of the exchanges are meaningful, which is exactly how a teenager writes when they are a novice at dialogue。 I know, because I wrote dialogue very much like that when I was a teenager, too--there's nothing exceptional about it。 So there's something authentic and still amateur about it。 Whether he really meant to write that way or if it's unconscious, that's debatable。 I suspect Ellis could not have been that clever, it's just the way he was。 So maybe it works because it's a reflection of himself。And maybe I'd have a better opinion of Ellis if he actually was more clever than this。 But the fact that he's returned to this idiom again and again (esp。 American Psycho) shows us that he's really not that clever--this is who he is。There's one particular scene in Less Than Zero that I think in a small way captures who Ellis is as a writer。 He is Dimitri, strumming a guitar, vacantly staring at the pool, hammering away at that one riff, over and over and over and over。Less Than Zero is one of the ugliest books I've ever read, and I don't mean that to be complimentary toward the author or to suggest that's somehow an accomplishment。 It's the kind of writing you don't want to go back to。 I read this in anticipation of finally reading his later magnum opus American Psycho, but now, no。 I'm done with Ellis。Sometimes you just know you're never going to want or need to read a particular book again。 This is one of those books。 。。。more

Mayor

3。5Love that every character is basically bisexual。 Refreshing。Though by the end I saw the point of the violence and gore, it was still uncomfortable to read。However, a beautifully depressing novel, certainly in a need of a reread in the future。Loved the way he wrote character interactions, even though simple。

Toria

I do not know how to rate this book properly or what to think of it。 At one hand it was very easy to get invested in but at the same time the descriptions and the horrid way people was handled made my stomach turn。 I'm clearly not as cold blooded enough to listen/read Bret Easton Ellis books, witouth being extremely uncomfortable。 I've only got 30 min left but I cannot listen to it anymore because it all became to much for me。 I will probably not read something else by him in the future。 I do not know how to rate this book properly or what to think of it。 At one hand it was very easy to get invested in but at the same time the descriptions and the horrid way people was handled made my stomach turn。 I'm clearly not as cold blooded enough to listen/read Bret Easton Ellis books, witouth being extremely uncomfortable。 I've only got 30 min left but I cannot listen to it anymore because it all became to much for me。 I will probably not read something else by him in the future。 。。。more

Clara Carrera

Non mi ha fatto impazire, hardcore algunas partes del final pero bastante anodino en lo demás, ha costado que pasaran cosas。

Marina Bartolomé

Innecesario。

Ethan Manley

Less than Zero has a repetitive story, mostly consisting of parties attended by the passive protagonist, Clay。 The writing is quite simplistic, mostly stating what's happening in long sentences with a lot of "ands。" Compared to another privileged and dissatisfied protagonist like Holden Caulfield, Clay doesn't seem very opinionated, he mostly responds to the greed and superficiality around him with seemingly complete apathy。However, there are some events in the last quarter of the story that wer Less than Zero has a repetitive story, mostly consisting of parties attended by the passive protagonist, Clay。 The writing is quite simplistic, mostly stating what's happening in long sentences with a lot of "ands。" Compared to another privileged and dissatisfied protagonist like Holden Caulfield, Clay doesn't seem very opinionated, he mostly responds to the greed and superficiality around him with seemingly complete apathy。However, there are some events in the last quarter of the story that were quite affecting in how unpleasant they were, so perhaps the earlier scenes were just to provide a contrast, I don't know。The simple writing style meant that this was quite an easy read, attention-wise, and while I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it, I enjoyed Less than Zero。 。。。more

Ellie

A weirdly compulsive read。

E。

I feel ambivalent about the two books I've read by Bret Easton Ellis (this one and American Psycho)。 They're not difficult reads, but their meaning was arcane。 I could have read anything into what he was trying to say。 It seemed like commentary on something, but I wasn't clear on exactly what。 That's not a bad thing。 I like interpretation, and maybe that's why libertarians fawn all over Ellis, because he's not dictating what they should take away from his writing。 Maybe his writing should be int I feel ambivalent about the two books I've read by Bret Easton Ellis (this one and American Psycho)。 They're not difficult reads, but their meaning was arcane。 I could have read anything into what he was trying to say。 It seemed like commentary on something, but I wasn't clear on exactly what。 That's not a bad thing。 I like interpretation, and maybe that's why libertarians fawn all over Ellis, because he's not dictating what they should take away from his writing。 Maybe his writing should be interpreted more like art than literature。 You know, like how you feel about it is more important than the statement he's trying to make with it。 Well, that's settled in my mind; that's how I'm going to read Bret Easton Ellis from now on。 。。。more

Mathias Chouvier

Bienvenue dans Une saison en enfer avec Clay et toute sa bande de copains。 De retour à Los Angeles pour l’été, Clay et ses amis, tous très riches et tous parfaitement désœuvrés, se jettent à corps perdu dans la drogue, le sexe et tout ce qui peut détourner leur attention de leur vie morne et si facile。 Comme le dit Clay, ils cherchent tous à voir ce qu’il y a de pire, ils cherchent tous quelque chose à perdre, une raison de vivre ou de mourir。 Le premier roman de Bret Easton Ellis, déjà très mar Bienvenue dans Une saison en enfer avec Clay et toute sa bande de copains。 De retour à Los Angeles pour l’été, Clay et ses amis, tous très riches et tous parfaitement désœuvrés, se jettent à corps perdu dans la drogue, le sexe et tout ce qui peut détourner leur attention de leur vie morne et si facile。 Comme le dit Clay, ils cherchent tous à voir ce qu’il y a de pire, ils cherchent tous quelque chose à perdre, une raison de vivre ou de mourir。 Le premier roman de Bret Easton Ellis, déjà très marqué par son style inimitable, est une plongée abyssale dans les tourments de l’ennui。 。。。more

Sander

/’’Is that Muriel?’’’’No, that girl’s black’’’’Oh。。。。 you’re right。’’Pause’’It’s not a girl。’’I wonder how Trent can mistake a black teenage boy, not anorexic, for Muriel。/

Malcom

Less Than Zero - Bret Easton Ellis:I had previously heard about Bret Easton Ellis, most notorious for his acclaimed classic American Psycho。 I had watched the movie, but was never acquainted with the author himself。 When I think of Patrick Bateman, only Christian Bale comes to mind, not Mr。 Ellis。 And am I glad I stumbled upon his first novel。Less Than Zero was Ellis' first voyage into the literary world, and it is astonishing how he penned this when he was just 21。 21! Mind boggling。 Anyways, t Less Than Zero - Bret Easton Ellis:I had previously heard about Bret Easton Ellis, most notorious for his acclaimed classic American Psycho。 I had watched the movie, but was never acquainted with the author himself。 When I think of Patrick Bateman, only Christian Bale comes to mind, not Mr。 Ellis。 And am I glad I stumbled upon his first novel。Less Than Zero was Ellis' first voyage into the literary world, and it is astonishing how he penned this when he was just 21。 21! Mind boggling。 Anyways, this novel is a forage into the spoilt, and the absurdly rich population in Los Angeles, following our titular protagonist Clay, who has just returned from New Hampshire, to a world that he has previously known。 Drugs, prostitution, sex, partying。 The outrageousness is not easy to get accustomed to, but it is charming nonetheless。Okay, let me rephrase。 It is extremely charming。 Who doesn't love to read about the rich, and the spoilt teenagers in the America of yesteryear? The Great Gatsby, but with teenagers, and less manners。 Okay, that might be a stretch on all cylinders, but you get the idea of their wealth。 It isn't just wealth that Clay is dealing with on a daily basis。 It's the prevalent drug use。 Literally every page is lined with 'did a line' or 'cocaine'。 However, it doesn't really dive into the effects of the drugs that are mentioned throughout。 They are mostly just filler, but the frequency of their mentions is downright crazy。 The plot revolves around Clay navigating his old life, reconnecting with his best friend, drug dealer, and ex girlfriend as the main characters in our story。 The ensemble is extremely large, considering the teenage party scene that sprawls across the area。 Clay is indulgent in all of the vices, but this is a tale of inner turmoil。 He is a bystander to a lot of happenings, similarly to Nick Carraway, but he is hopelessly pessimistic about everything。 The narration of the novel is in the first person, and is worth noting that it is delivered in a monotone manner, with a jarring indifference to everything that happens。 As Michiko Kakutani of The New York Times said, "It possesses an unnerving air of documentary reality。" It really does, because of it deadpan delivery。 Clay slowly realizes that this is not the life he really wants to lead, and with each peculiar incident that occurs, he is slowly losing himself in the toxic underbelly of that echelon of society。This is a darn interesting book, despite its short length。 It doesn't have chapters, only breaks in paragraphs that signal a change of scenery。 It's almost we're moved from one scene to another, like a play。 Some are extremely short diary entries of sorts, some are interactions and some are recounts of incidents。 But it all ties together in a cohesive, eventful spectacle and was perhaps best narrated as indifferently as it was。 We are left here reading unspeakable acts committed, but with the shared nonchalance of Clay, it all seems normal。 And that makes what unravels even more unnerving。 There isn't a linear storyline to follow, because like a string of days, they don't usually add up to a climatic finale of sorts。 This is literally an account of what Clay experienced in his months back。 We feel like we are with Clay, hijacking his irises。 This book is crude, twisted but very enrapturing in a very demented way。 Written by a twenty one year-old with the linguistic prowess of someone far beyond his ears。 The simplicity, and relatability is what perhaps gives the book its acclaim。 I'm nitpicking, but at the same time I would have loved to see more descriptors attached to the characters。 Don't get me wrong, Ellis paints scenes well, and actions very intricately, but always leaves out the descriptions of, at least, the main characters at hand。 Similarly to Charles Webb's The Graduate, we are kept in the dark about how the characters look like except from their conversations with their friends。 The story seems like it has no central message。 At least, no strong central message。 But that isn't important at all。 It's a very interesting read, but it doesn't provoke much thought, largely due to its surreal backdrop。 Not a fault, because its precisely what gives the book its allure。 The writing is so deliberate, and unique that it might seem unorthodox at first, but it is so easy to fall in love with it。 Michiko Kakutani's words could not have been more spot-on。This book is a breath of fresh, spoilt air in the landscape of literature。 It is so bold in its subject matter, and so unorthodox in structure that it is sure to win over the hearts of those who have been tired from reading Dostoyevsky or Woolf。 Sometimes, simplicity can be brilliant in many ways unimaginable。Would strongly recommend anyone who is considering to start on Ellis' work to be acquainted with this classic。 It is addictive, like the substance so frequently mentioned。 。。。more

Mia Elias

I think this is a really good book but not for me。 This is an endless cycle of someone who is an addict and basically going into nothingness。 I can appreciate the way it is written but There was not enough of a plot to keep my attention。 I did not learn much from this book。

Mehmed Duhović

Jos jedan detaljan prikaz pijancenja, razvrata i nemorala ovaj put smjesten u rane osamdesete u Los Angelesu。 Minimalizam i zustrina naracije su se izrodile u ovoj knjizi a poslije postale prepoznatljive kod Ellisa u "Americkom Psihu"。Iako mi je knjiga jako prijala dijelom zbog manjka glamuroznosti, a drugim dijelom zbog zivopisnih opisa bogataske raskalasenosti, nakon "Psiha" je poprilicno blagog sadrzaja a i ocigledno je da je "Psiho" puno kvalitetnija knjiga。 Jos jedan detaljan prikaz pijancenja, razvrata i nemorala ovaj put smjesten u rane osamdesete u Los Angelesu。 Minimalizam i zustrina naracije su se izrodile u ovoj knjizi a poslije postale prepoznatljive kod Ellisa u "Americkom Psihu"。Iako mi je knjiga jako prijala dijelom zbog manjka glamuroznosti, a drugim dijelom zbog zivopisnih opisa bogataske raskalasenosti, nakon "Psiha" je poprilicno blagog sadrzaja a i ocigledno je da je "Psiho" puno kvalitetnija knjiga。 。。。more

A。

"The shocking novel of the new lost generation。" Yea, a bunch of kids going to clubs and doing coke all the time, yea, very shocking。 "The shocking novel of the new lost generation。" Yea, a bunch of kids going to clubs and doing coke all the time, yea, very shocking。 。。。more

Yehudit Danoff

Rich young people wasting time。。。 not even going to finish this。

Regina

I really, really shouldn't like this book。 There's no real plot。 The characters and their lives are completely hollow and aimless。 LA is the backdrop here, which a perfect reflection of these people; beautiful and glamourous on the surface/empty and dirty underneath。 But it has gotten under my skin and I can't stop thinking about it。 I really, really shouldn't like this book。 There's no real plot。 The characters and their lives are completely hollow and aimless。 LA is the backdrop here, which a perfect reflection of these people; beautiful and glamourous on the surface/empty and dirty underneath。 But it has gotten under my skin and I can't stop thinking about it。 。。。more