Now based in Los Angeles, Bret Easton Ellis is one of his generation's most original and provocative literary minds. If his debut, Less Than Zero, was something of a surprise to the literary establishment—it sold over 50,000 copies in its first month and was followed just two years later by a movie version, starring Robert Downey Jr—his true notoriety came with the publication of American Psycho, the unflinchingly violent, utterly transgressive story of disturbingly collected serial killer Patrick Bateman (which was also made into a movie, starring Christian Bale, in 2000). To celebrate the release of his latest, and seventh novel, Imperial Bedrooms, we caught up with the novelist to pick his brains.
Favorite literary character of all time?
Humbert from Nabokov's Lolita
.
Favorite film adaptation of all time?
The Godfather
.
Last album downloaded?
High Violet by The National.
On my desk you'll find...
Bottled water, iPhone, ashtray, another bottled water.
My necessary extravagances are...
Expensive tequila, expensive porn, James Perse tees and hoodies.
LA is better than New York because...
It's not simply rich people and tourists.
Most significant difference between 1985 and 2010?
It's more global, more forward thinking. It's the future.
Apathy or vanity?
I've been accused of being very vain about my apathy.
Greatest vice?
Technology.
Greatest virtue?
Letting it go.