The Book Club's Very Unofficial Pointless Announcements Thread
i was thinking the other day we need a thread for just random shit to do with books. new releases you're pumped about. shit you've heard on the grape vine. all that shit that isn't worth a whole thread and belongs nowhere else.
so, do get it kick-started, i saw this just now on amazon, and it got me substantially wet:
i fucking love the cover.
and this is what Publishers Weekly had to say, it's basically a slightly more detailed synopsis than the one the publishers gave:
Starred Review. Ellis explores what disillusioned youth looks like 25 years later in this brutal sequel to Less Than Zero. Clay, now a screenwriter, returns at Christmas to an L.A. that looks and operates much as it did 25 years ago. Trent is now a producer and married to Clay's ex, Blair, while Julian runs an escort service and Rip, Clay's old dealer, has had so much plastic surgery he's unrecognizable. While casting a script he's written, Clay falls for a young, untalented actress named Rain Turner, and his obsession and affair with her powers him through an alcoholic haze that swirls with images of death, mysterious text messages, and cars lurking outside his apartment. The story takes on a creepy noirish bent—with Clay as the frightened detective who doesn't really want to know anything—as it barrels toward a conclusion that reveals the horror that lies at the center of a tortured soul. Ellis fans will delight in the characters and Ellis's easy hand in manipulating their fates, and though the novel's synchronicity with Zero is sublime, this also works as a stellar stand-alone.
looking forward to this. i'm sure there's a few of you out there that feel much the same.
oh, and while i've got you here, and we're on the topic of BEE. anyone read this. it also just came to my attention.
Oh yeah, I'm definitely getting Imperial Bedrooms.
I just pre-ordered a book by an Australian author, Rebecca James, that's been getting a lot of buzz because it sold for a billion dollars or something. It looks cool.
imma check that shit out. you're in the know with the aussie authors, Clem.
As for the new Ellis - you know I'm stoked! He's one of my favorite authors. I wish he would put out books quicker. But maybe I should just be grateful for what he does put out?
Oh and Matt - to answer your PM - This'll work! lol :P
how dare you disclose PRIVATE conversations in a PUBLIC forum without my permission!!!
FIE! BANHAMMER! FIE! FIE!
okay, now that's over... that stalking ellis book seems like a bit of a bad joke, huh? i'm suprised he hasn't sued her shitty uncreative arse to the ground.
Imperial Bedrooms sounds fucking amazing. and, i'm pretty sure LTZ has been my favourite so far, so maybe this will top it.
I don't think Ellis cares.
When I was living at my old apartment with my ex, our upstairs neighbor was visiting some friends or something and he actually had dinner with Ellis.
I was talking about books - you know the usual, boring people - and he's like, "Have you read anything by Bret Ellis?"
I'm like, "Have I? He's probably one of my top 3 or 4 writers..."
"Oh, I had dinner with him. Compete flamer. Pretty nice guy though..."
"Complete flamer? He wrote American Psycho though..."
"Chuck Palahniuk wrote Fight Club."
"How come all of my favorite authors are turning gay!"
"Who else?"
"I don't know, isn't Douglas Coupland? Maybe I'm just freaking out that you had dinner with Bret Easton Ellis and the only thing you can say about it is that he's a flamer."
"He is though."
"Whatever."
I just pre-ordered a book by an Australian author, Rebecca James, that's been getting a lot of buzz because it sold for a billion dollars or something. It looks cool.
pfft! they called it an American fiction debut. american. she lives in fucking armidale. hahaha.
sounds okay. i'm not completely sold on it, though.
When I was living at my old apartment with my ex, our upstairs neighbor was visiting some friends or something and he actually had dinner with Ellis.
I was talking about books - you know the usual, boring people - and he's like, "Have you read anything by Bret Ellis?"
I'm like, "Have I? He's probably one of my top 3 or 4 writers..."
"Oh, I had dinner with him. Compete flamer. Pretty nice guy though..."
"Complete flamer? He wrote American Psycho though..."
"Chuck Palahniuk wrote Fight Club."
"How come all of my favorite authors are turning gay!"
"Who else?"
"I don't know, isn't Douglas Coupland? Maybe I'm just freaking out that you had dinner with Bret Easton Ellis and the only thing you can say about it is that he's a flamer."
"He is though."
"Whatever."
hhahaha. that's classic funny.
i had a bit of a personal epiphany not long ago. i started realising that a lot of the people (artists, singers, writers) i admire are gay. i confided in my girlfriend, Natalie about my findings and she said, "You know what that says about you?"
i replied, "Oh, i'm a fucking fag hag. great"
hahaha.
pfft! they called it an American fiction debut. american. she lives in fucking armidale. hahaha.
sounds okay. i'm not completely sold on it, though.
American, ha! The teen angst and intrigue sounds right up my alley.
I remember seeing a booktrailer for Stalking..., and thinking, "Man, there are two things seriously wrong with that title."
Also, I heard that Andrew McCarthy is reading the audio version of Imperial Bedrooms; and though I detested the film adaptation of Less Than Zero, it's really the perfect choice.
Great idea for a thread Matthew, I can see my amazon wishlist getting out of hand.
If Bret Easton Ellis is touring in Europe for Imperial Bedrooms then I will do my best to show up. I would love to meet him!
"Oh, I had dinner with him. Compete flamer. Pretty nice guy though..."
Heh. From what I've heard, Bret Easton Ellis just likes playing the social irritant, aggressively defying expectations. I read another guy's account of his lunch with Ellis--he was expecting an effete creative type and instead got a macho cynic. The man keeps many veils in his closet.
On Imperial Bedrooms. Are they releasing the paperback at the same time or not? I see Amazon has a paperback listed but it doesn't have the cover art and some of the info is different to that of the hardcover. It's got me confused.
I don't see why they would release both at the same time. I'm assuming that the release date is only for the Hard Cover as of now.
I've never been happier that Amazon finally caught on to the fact I'd been on a free trial of Prime for the past six months and cut me off. This thread would have been the death of me.
I read the first chapter of KNOCKEMSTIFF at Borders today. Wow. Amazing. It went onto my wishlist.
"A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism." -Carl Sagan
"Am I cruel? Probably. Is she an idiot? Yes." -jane s.
This is a great book.
"...you want to be truly unselfish? Love someone or die for someone. Those are the only good deeds you can perform without any hope of personal gain."
Years ago, when I first got into Bret Easton Ellis, I'd frequent my local used-book store looking for his work. They never had any of it, but they always had Eating the Cheshire Cat in the spot where stuff by Ellis would have been. I grew to hate seeing that cover.
I can't wait for the new BEE! I've read all of his books, not that there's a ton, but, he might be my favorite writer.
Also, three of my top five favorite writers are gay. Chuck, Ellis, and Sedaris. Now you're telling me that Douglas Coupland might be too! He's number four on my list! That's crazy talk, take it back!
"There’s no use in denying it: this has been a bad week. I’ve started drinking my own urine." -Patrick Bateman
Huh? I didn't know that Sedaris is gay. Dude. A fan no more.
"A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism." -Carl Sagan
"Am I cruel? Probably. Is she an idiot? Yes." -jane s.
LOL Steven!
I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt on this one.... You are kidding right?
"There’s no use in denying it: this has been a bad week. I’ve started drinking my own urine." -Patrick Bateman
Well I'm kidding that I'm no longer a fan, but I didn't know he was gay.
"A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism." -Carl Sagan
"Am I cruel? Probably. Is she an idiot? Yes." -jane s.
Have you ever read his stuff or heard his voice, Steven? That would have given it away SO much.
I've read Holidays On Ice and just a few stories from Naked. And I heard him read a story called Six to Eight Black Men on Youtube. I listened to it with my friend and neither of us realized he was gay. But I guess now that I know it does seem kind of obvious. I'm going to start assuming authors are gay. Have Phil and Mike come out of the closet yet? What about Tietz? I wonder how his girlfriend is gonna take it.
"A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism." -Carl Sagan
"Am I cruel? Probably. Is she an idiot? Yes." -jane s.
That's why I asked. I haven't read all of his stuff, but he talks openly about homosexuality in much of it.
"There’s no use in denying it: this has been a bad week. I’ve started drinking my own urine." -Patrick Bateman
HAHAHA! Phil we already knew about. Him and Jack are two peas in a murderous pod.
Mike... well, he has the power to squash my head with his mind, so I'll refrain...
Ha. Speaking of Jack, was the cover art for Klondike modeled after him? Because I feel like it looks just like him.
"A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism." -Carl Sagan
"Am I cruel? Probably. Is she an idiot? Yes." -jane s.
Douglas Coupland is gay...
http://www.nerve.com/screeningroom/books/interview_douglascoupland2/
A Fan No More?
http://www.nerve.com/screeningroom/books/interview_douglascoupland2/
A Fan No More?
Yeah I know I looked it up too. A fan no more? I'm not suggesting that, I almost respect him more!
"There’s no use in denying it: this has been a bad week. I’ve started drinking my own urine." -Patrick Bateman
Also, three of my top five favorite writers are gay. Chuck, Ellis...
haha that's the second time in two days you've used that movie. Both times it made me really laugh out loud.
http://www.nerve.com/screeningroom/books/interview_douglascoupland2/
A Fan No More?
Yeah I know I looked it up too. A fan no more? I'm not suggesting that, I almost respect him more!
i don't think this guy gets the 'a fan no more' joke.
will someone explain it, damnit.
http://chuckpalahniuk.net/forum/1000005/a-fan-of-chuck-palahniuk-no-more
"A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism." -Carl Sagan
"Am I cruel? Probably. Is she an idiot? Yes." -jane s.
Wow. I'm sure that if Chuck had started out completely open this guy wouldn't have a problem with him.
"There’s no use in denying it: this has been a bad week. I’ve started drinking my own urine." -Patrick Bateman
haha Yeah I just thought you didn't think what I said was funny...
Quite the opposite my friend, I just hadn't seen that other thread yet. Thanks for posting it, it was good for a couple laughs!
"There’s no use in denying it: this has been a bad week. I’ve started drinking my own urine." -Patrick Bateman
don't worry, you'll get a couple more laughs again at some point. there'll be another thread once that one's out of sight.
Yes - our monthly "Chuck Palahniuk Smokes Pole!!" thread... Where would the Cult be without it?
!!! Dammiiiit. I'll be getting it in the mail next week. You guys are killing me!
How dare you people wonder if I'm gay? I'm as straight as a Japanese man's erection.
thanks for sharing.blackhawk tactical pants.
— Spambot
"I could have done worse!" exultantly cried the murderer Lebret, sentenced at Rouen to hard labor for life. — Félix Fénéon
Something i thought about when I read "On the Road" was that Kerouac wrote about a conversation he had with another character (can't remember who) about their boyhoods. Kerouac then said that when he was a boy he used to imagine that he had a huge scythe in his hands when he rode in the car and that he used to pretend that he chopped all the trees, lampposts and whatever came in his way down. The other character said he used to do the exact same thing. I TOO used to do that when I was a boy.
Anyone else did this, or is it just me, Kerouac and his friend? 
"Someone must have slandered Josef K., for one morning, without having done anything truly wrong, he was arrested."
"Jemand musste Josef K. verleumdet haben, denn ohne dass er etwas Böses getan hätte, wurde er eines Morgens verhaftet"
I used to do it too! I remember reading that part. In my head though - it was a huge lawnmower/weedwhip.
nope. me too, i remember feeling so fucking cool when i read that in On The Road. I'm like Kerouac!fuck yeah! hahaha.
really fucking cool short story, if you can get your eyes on it. it's in a suspense anthology called Dangerous Women, edited by Otto Penzlar. my girlfrend, Natalie bought it for a couple of bucks on special a while back.
the story is: Improvisation by Ed McBain
it also has a story called Third Party in there by Jay McInerney, but i am yet to read it.
i fucking love the cover.
New Less Than Zero cover:
Damnit! I like that cover. I'll probably have to own another copy of Less Than Zero now...
hhhahaa. it's how they play us.
i like the IB one in that series much more. i think i'll stick with my watery cover of LTZ for now.
but you guys know i'm a sucker for those damn matching covers. so, anything could happen.
I started Beat the Reaper last night. I'm 100% positive I will love it.
nice! don't foget to post in the Reaper thread when you're done, Timb.
Bought my first Hemmingway over the weekend. It's last in line of a few books I've been stock piling.
"Plus, if I go too long without writing I start to turn into a real asshole." -misterwoe
"She'll like what she's told to like." -Mo'Don
That Stalking book had me thinking about it for a split second, but then I thought - How can you whore off somebody else's name to make a buck? Something about her imitating Ellis' style and slapping his name on it seems wrong.
As for the new Ellis - you know I'm stoked! He's one of my favorite authors. I wish he would put out books quicker. But maybe I should just be grateful for what he does put out?
Oh and Matt - to answer your PM - This'll work! lol