MS PowerPoint Presentation: Book Review (Brett Easton Ellis – Less Than Zero)

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Less Than Zero

It may be cliché to say do not judge the book by its cover, but that is exactly what I did. Somehow, the cover shows abstractness, which is very fitting with the title of the book. It also fits for the theme of moral discrepancy, unhinged behavior in the sight of money and a picture of depravity regarding personal responsibility. The cover itself is very informative about the almost dark nature that the book takes and the journey of the main character, Clay.

I chose the book as it is the stereotypical Hollywood development type and an almost mirror image of what celebrities in Hollywood end up being. The primary subject matter of drug use, privileges that are abused and ignorance to the problems of other people who are less advantaged are very evident. Matching to the lifestyle of the boy who takes a journey to discover himself, the book brings out the aspect of socio-economic diversity as the impact to change in the way people think (Holloway, 2011). Clay has been away in college and has had to touch shoulder with the rich and the poor, and he understands the other side of the fence which makes him cringe at the display that seems to be back at home (Ellis, 2013). However, Julian who has remained on riches all this while has fallen victim to drug abuse and prostitution.

While the book points out the differences in behavior, there is the element of discovering oneself that has not been forgotten. The journey of Clay coming back home and trying to rekindle his love with Blair shows his age. This gives a sense of grounding to the book that the complete negativity that comes out brings to focus the challenges each of the characters has. It makes them human too as it paints the objectivity in consideration of emotional well being as part of growth. In this way, it brings in the aspect of love as the constant thing in the past the present and an allusion to the future and in a way indirectly portraying it as the source of stability when nothing else works. The theme of the book still holds to the society today. Told from a first perspective, it makes it almost real and bibliographical.

Works Cited

Ellis, B. E. (2013). Less than zero. London: Picador.

Holloway, D. (2011, December 29). Winter read: Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/dec/29/winter-reads-bret-easton-ellis