Imperial Bedrooms by Bret Easton Ellis – Reviewed by Guy Portman
Following a stint in The Big Apple, screenwriter Clay has returned to LA to do castings for his new movie. However, he spends most of his time hanging out at parties and getting reacquainted with various people. He also meets a beautiful but inept actress called Rain. The pair start a relationship and Clay promises her a part in his film, even though he has no intention of giving it to her. All the while Clay is being stalked and constantly reminded about the horrific murder of a producer he knew.
Imperial Bedrooms (2010) is the sequel to the author’s lauded literary debut, Less Than Zero (1985). It revisits the once troubled teenagers, who are now middle-aged. Vapid protagonist Clay has grown up to be a damaged, depraved and disillusioned individual.
Readers of the prequel may feel a sense of nostalgia revisiting this familiar cast of characters. However, while this short book shares the prequel’s nihilistic tone, it is a somewhat jaded effort that suffers from a scant and convoluted plot. In his younger years, Easton Ellis was a transgressive genius. This offering is evidence of his decline.
