My Interest in Bret Easton Ellis: Less Than Zero

Bret Easton Ellis went to the same college as my friend Brian, that is Bennington College in Vermont. Mr. Ellis made a big splash with his first novel, Less Than Zero. I was quite riveted by this book. The relationships the protagonist had with his parents and sisters were especially chilling. All the cool fun a rich kid from LA had seemed to evaporate in the face of bleak and meaningless relationships, sexual and otherwise.

I just watched the movie. In spite of the lovely performance of the bruised-lipped Robert Downey, Jr., and the preppie charm of Andrew McCarthy (playing Mr. Ellis' alter-ego), this movie was Hollywood love-triangle meets Trainspotting lite, in my opinion. Pick up the book.