"American Psycho" author Bret Easton Ellis said Wednesday night that his decision to spotlight flawed characters rather than wholesome ones has created a rift between himself and the literary establishment.
Speaking at BookCourt in Brooklyn, Ellis read excerpts from his new novel "Imperial Bedrooms" -- a follow-up to his groundbreaking 1985 work "Less Than Zero" -- to a rapt audience that he peppered with wisecracks, wisdom and some of his signature wit.
“This is the disconnect between me and the literary establishment," Ellis explained. "It’s that I find flawed, unsympathetic characters sympathetic. Our personal tragedies are what really makes drama, and they’re what makes things compelling."
He added, "It’s not [about] us being great people who fall in love with awesome people. You want to read that book? It’s a ("The Notebook" author) Nicholas Sparks' book. The best fiction challenges us.”
When asked whether he preferred fiction or screenplay writing, the author quipped, "What about drinking Tequila? Is it just between those two things?"
