Several years ago, I picked up a few Bret Easton Ellis books and really wanted to like them, but found that they simply weren't my thing. My Loose Thread reminded me strongly of Ellis' work in both style and subject.
The extreme violence may put off some, although I would argue that the imagery is relevant in understanding Larry and the world as he sees it. But it is the chaotic narrative that challenged me. While I suppose it is a device to underscore the confusion and insanity of the main character, we only jump into situations as an observer in Larry's head with the reality or Larry's perceived reality at that moment is what we experience. Larry, as the narrator of the book, never treats the reader as a trusted confidant and doesn't help us pull the pieces together in a way that help really understand who he is and what his motivations are. I believe that is probably intentional, but is a writing style that does not work for me.
|
