Book Report: Imperial Bedrooms

As you may recall, I have recently read all of Bret Easton Ellis's books, some for the second time and some for the third, as a way of getting into the right frame of mind for Ellis's most recent book, Imperial Bedrooms. I started reading the book, but then I was sidetracked. I started it again a few nights ago and I finished it, so now I'm going to share my thoughts. First, Imperial Bedrooms is not really like any of Ellis's other stories. It is, as I understand it, intended to be something of a sequel to Less Than Zero, and it is that, but it is much more straightforward than his other work. It is also more specifically part of a genre. Imperial Bedrooms does have a lot of what Ellis readers will find familiar, but it is more than anything else an American detective story. Second, Imperial Bedrooms might be my favorite Ellis story. The way he weaves his new reality into his old reality and into reality itself is amazing. The tension of the story is strong and the characterizations are sharp, pointed, and surprising. Third, I don't know if this book would have any meaning at all for someone who has not read Less Than Zero. Now a note about work. I will complete the current active chapter tomorrow night. -Cary