The Shards
The Shards
Book Brief
Beta595
Novel • Fiction
•
Mystery & Crime Fiction•
Modern Classic FictionLos Angeles, California • 1980s
2023
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis follows a group of teenagers in 1980s Los Angeles, entangled in a web of mystery and danger. As they navigate love, identity, and fear, their lives intersect with a chilling series of events that reveal deep secrets and unsettling truths.
Reviews & Readership
31,784 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Bret Easton Ellis' The Shards explores dark, intense themes with his characteristic sharp prose, gripping readers from start to finish. Positive feedback highlights Ellis' ability to evoke the 1980s Los Angeles scene vividly, coupled with a thrilling narrative. However, some readers may find the graphic and disturbing content overwhelming. Suitable for fans of Ellis' previous work seeking another provocative read.
Who Should Read The Shards?
Fans of complex, psychologically intense narratives akin to American Psycho and Less Than Zero will enjoy The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis. This book appeals to readers who appreciate dark, introspective looks into the lives of affluent, troubled youth. The blend of suspense and gritty realism will captivate those drawn to intense character studies.
31,784 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The Shards, a semi-autobiographical novel by Bret Easton Ellis, marks his first published work of fiction in over a decade, following the release of Imperial Bedrooms in 2010.
In an innovative approach to his writing process, Ellis initially read The Shards in serialized form on his podcast, sharing the draft with listeners before publishing the final version.
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The novel revisits familiar themes and settings for Ellis, drawing inspiration from his own experiences growing up in Los Angeles in the early 1980s.
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595
Novel • Fiction
•
Mystery & Crime Fiction•
Modern Classic FictionLos Angeles, California • 1980s
2023
Adult
18+ years
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