Less Than Zero question

Actually, I thought it was the worst book I've ever read. Meaning is out there if you're willing to look for it.

I think you are asking all the important questions Melissa. And I think Bret Easton Ellis's novel haunt some of us in ways that satirize or highlight flaws in our society. The contemporary North American economy and lifestyle is not as conducive to spirituality as other economies (like hunter-gatherer cultures) and that void is part of the human condition. Many writers have written novels with this aspect of the human condition....Bret Easton Ellis has set his within Hollywood and celebrity culture.

I loved the sequel to this novel "Imperial Bedrooms".

It was a good mirror into the 80's.

Rather than answering with some grandiose theory of human psychology, I just want to point out that despite Ellis' claims to the contrary, he is in fact a moralist. His own disgust with society is often manifested through his fiction.

I might also add that this is one of my favourite novels, and that I am doing academic work on Ellis for my PhD.

I liked how the characters are so ugly hence its very easy to sit in judgment of them and then we too as the reader prove Ellis' point that society is uncaring selfish and empty, lacking in empathy and humanity.

Just another note: In an interview, Ellis mentioned that he also wanted to express his guilt regarding his betrayal of a friend while working on the movie adaptation of one of his books, 'The Informers'.

I don't particularly remember which interview that was in but it could possibly be from this one: http://wheelercentre.com/videos/video...

in trying to write a book about people who have a hard time caring about anything, ellis has written a book that most people will have a hard time caring about.