The structure of the book is intriguing, using second person narrative, but the protagonist is such a...well, moron, that it's difficult to care about his struggles with the sad events in his life. ( )

Sort of moping and plotless. However, this is the only time that I have ever managed to use those words as a compliment. You follow yourself through several days worth of crappy experiences, get drunk, get high, and have a flashback of watching your mother die. That's all you get, and that's all you can ask for from this book. Grade A perfect. ( )

If you like early Bret Easton Ellis (Rules of Attraction, Less than Zero), then you'll probably enjoy this. Very fast read with entertaining, likable, hapless narrator. The use of 2d person gives the book an appropriately "shallow" feel. That said, it's a stylistic affectation, and like any affectation it can at times become tedious--it would probably have worked better in a short story. ( )

Amusing because it is written in second person.
Drug days of the 1980's ( )

I was suprised by the story's depth, and the author was successful in making me feel as worn out as the main character. Overall, however, it just felt a bit generic, perhaps because the character's battle is mostly a private matter and the results of his choices don't seem especially consequential. ( )

An amazing accomplishment - it is possible to live a character through the direct use of the second person. McInerney is genius. ( )

I think this is the only book I have read that is written entirely in the second person. I imagine there are more out there somewhere. The book and author are part of that 1980s young gun scene. McInerney captures the time period well, but the writing is sophomoric. I would have enjoyed it more as an early twenty-something, but I read it too late to consider the themes substantial. In the end, you just want to tell the characters to grow up and get on with life. ( )

Bad movie, great book. I think more people have seen the lousy '80s flick than have actually read the extremely catchy book with a great 2nd-person hook. It's easy, funny, witty. One of my favorites. ( )

Young urban sophisticates in the age of disco and cocaine, and before AIDS. A not unpleasant portrait of an age. ( )

http://geneg75075books.livejournal.co... ( )

If you took "Less Than Zero" and transferred it to the east coast, you would end up with "Bright Lights, Big City". Although it's another story of a man trying to find himself in this world I couldn't help but love it. ( )

A young man finds his life slowly spiralling into the depths of chaos of cocaine and depression. His wife has left him. He is close to being fired from his job at a reputable New York magazine. A good read; honest and simple; use of 2nd-person voice suits story very well. ( )