Glamorama

By: Bret Easton Ellis

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

From his first novel – Less Than Zero – published when he was still a college student – to his most recent – the fierce American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis has been a powerful and original presence in contemporary literature, whether giving voice to a previously inchoate generation or provoking a controversy that raged throughout the culture.

Now he takes a quantum leap forward: an awesome reckoning of the American Century at endgame. In Glamorama, a young man in what is recognizably fashion and celebrity-obsessed Manhattan is gradually, imperceptibly drawn into a shadowy looking-glass of that society, there and in London and Paris, and then finds himself trapped on the other side, in a much darker place where fame and terrorism and family and politics are inextricably linked and sometimes indistinguishable. At once implicated and horror-stricken, his ways of escape blocked at every turn, he ultimately discovers – back on the other, familiar side – that there was no mirror, no escape, no world but this one in which hotels implode and planes fall from the sky.

Time and again, the novel confounds one's expectations of it, and Bret Easton Ellis accomplishes the transitions from comic to surreal to horrific to humane with astonishing confidence. Matching ambition with artistic maturity, Glamorama is at once hilarious, savage in its worldly observation, and compassionate in its vision: a defining novel of our times.

As an added bonus, when you purchase our Audible Modern Vanguard production of Bret Easton Ellis' book, you'll also get an exclusive Jim Atlas interview that begins when the audiobook ends.

Listen to more Audible Modern Vanguard titles.©2000 Bret Easton Ellis (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"One of the passing delights of Glamorama is to imagine how scholars of postmodern fiction will explain it a century hence... Ellis invests a fresh hell on every page... [And] through all this mayhem the style remains mysteriously elegant." ( The New Yorker)

"Impeccable... cold and pitiless and modern... [Ellis] captures a cultural moment of racial dandyhood, where distinctions of sexuality seem less important that whether you look like a model and wear Prada." ( The Village Voice)

"His best work to date... He remains a laser-precise satirist but the wit now dominates. " ( Esquire)

Celebrity Hell

Glamorama is a suffocating, gruesome, satirical look at celebrity culture and the damage it does. It resembles American Psycho in its repetitive listings of clothing brands and celebrities, but its plot is much more ambitious and its protagonist more sympathetic. The tonal change after the plucky, funny first act is severe, and the fun comes to an abrupt end after the story's villains are established. While not exactly a masterpiece, Glamorama is biting, tragic, and very scary. In my opinion, it's one of Bret Easton Ellis's best novels.

Goated

One of the greatest pieces of art of all human history. Specifically this audiobook performance. 1000/10.

excellent but bloated

the story is overall engaging and definitely takes crazy turns throughout. had me riveted at many times, but also bored at others. you could probably cut 9 hours out and still have a cohesive story. either way, it's definitely an Ellis novel

Great narration, great story

If you are a fan of Ellis, check this one out. The story was captivating, loved the characters, and it had some dark and interesting plot twists.

Stellar

Another banger by my favorite author. Amazing narrator. Must read for BEE fans worth it even tho some think this is toward the bottom of his repertoire.