25% in so I’m might be wrong. Naming or pointing out who the serial killer is this quickly is crazy. Other than the location so far it doesn’t seem like a “prequel” to Less Than Zero. I like reading about Westwood village it reminds me of my undergrad years.
Chapter 12. About 44% Spoiler Im definitely buying into a curveball coming with all the spoilers he's laid out so far or going unreliable narrator angle. He keeps mentioning being the writer.
Starting chapter 16 about 55% done longest book I’ve read in a bit but it’s good and an easy read. Also this 100% isn’t a Less Than Zero prequel. I think I agree a little and a semantics argument but Spoiler he mentions being “a writer” not the writer. He keeps saying he creates or embellishes stuff. Also he thinks the new guy (Robert) killed his lover (Matt) but doesn’t consider he (Robert) is the serial killer. The pseudo rape scene made me uncomfortable. I’ve grown as a person because I don’t think I’d have the same reaction to that scene when I was younger. I was somewhat homophobic. It’s a good and easy read.
82% down about to start chapter 25. Spoiler I’ve changed my mind about Robert being The Trawler. I think it might be a Fight Club situation and Bret being the killer. The way he refers to “The Writer” in the third person makes me think Tyler Durden. Tyler’s accident at the party being so similar to Robert’s mom seems too convenient and makes me think it’s just a red herring. The audio tape of Matt’s murder that he just thinks is Robert voice makes no sense to me. He just assumes that with no evidence. Also the poster in Debbie’s room having a connection to him makes me believe he blacks out when he is the Trawler/Writer. A couple random things. Rich white people are a different breed/ species and technically these kids are late boomers and not gen X.
Just finished. Immediate reaction. Spoiler Very good character development and descriptive storytelling. Im kinda frustrated at not being told who the Trawler was. I do think Bret was him or at least involved. I guess instead of kinda assuming or believing who it was I would have kinda just like to be have told. The ambiguous nature of all allegations against Robert is also frustrating. He was truly a gigantic POS or just about the unluckiest person ever. The introduction of the band Debbie was with was also weird. It’s implied that it was her mother who paid for the photos of Bret and Terry but all the other photos makes it seem like it was Debbie who paid for them. That she was sort of involved with Shitty AMC Show. Was the bite mark Susan saw real or imagined? All in all a good novel. Makes me want to read Less Than Zero and American Psycho.
Just finished. It was highly entertaining. While I like BEE detail in settings and atmosphere and read this one pretty quick, this couldve been 100+ fewer pages. Also BEE is a pretty good narrator if you have audiobook. Spoiler A lot to unpack here. I think Bret did attack Susan and Thom so he could finish and frame Robert, but am unsure if Bret was associated with the Trawler/cult. Maybe he was because he described many aimless nights driving his car around or falling into a valium/lude induced sleep fog so maybe he was doing more shady shit then? Robert obviously is not without faults but gets fucked by Bret's obsession. Or maybe Robert is Bret? I think I'd have to re-read this to figure that out but even then this book is not giving away reasonable or straight answers. Ive got to think the Trawler or leader has some connection to the house. No way Robert or his aunt/uncles dont notice weird animal shit going on in the basement. Still trying to figure out Matt. He was obviously with someone he knew based on the photos at the end. Why didnt Bret go to the police or play the tapes to anyone? Did he kill Matt in jealous rage and make it appear to be the Trawler/Robert? Lots of suspects and questions we'll likely never know. It was a fun ride unpacking what Bret was telling us while questioning everything.
Spoiler after Robert dies and Bret is interviewed he says something like “I answered the cops like i had been practicing the answers for a long time” so something like that. I really think he was either the Trawler or at the very least part of the cult. I don’t think he just attacked his friends to frame Robert. The dog knew who he was with so that might point to Bret but it’s also believable that since he was part of the cult the dog knew the member who killed Matt.