Bret's Brief

I've never ready any of Bret Easton Ellis's novels, so it's weird that when I saw his latest in the library--a non-fiction book called White--I checked it out.  It's a book-length essay dealing with what American is like today, politically speaking..

And Ellis isn't that thrilled.  Anyone who's been following his Twitter account or his podcast (I don't follow either) would know that.  We've become a nation where people are afraid to express themselves and anyone who doesn't follow the party line can be canceled. While I generally agree with Ellis, this book isn't designed as an editorial so much as a look into his life and his view of the world.

Much of White, in fact, is a memoir, with Ellis discussing how he wrote his novels (Less Than Zero, American Psycho, etc.), how he sees popular culture (especially movies) and the relationships he's had with various boyfriends and others.  A lot of it is fun stuff, since Ellis is willing to give his opinions (in an age when so many are afraid to offend) and he writes in a smooth, easy-to-read style. (Perhaps this is how he writes his novels. I don't know.)

Much of the final third or so of the book deals with how the left seems to have lost its mind since Trump was elected. Though he has a good point, and gives plenty of examples, the book is not structured as a rigorous argument, so I doubt it will change many minds. (On the other hand, I doubt rigorous argument will change many minds.) He will get attacked, of course, for being a privileged white male (and being gay will not protect him since he doesn't say the right things), but, of course, that's sort of the point.