The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast from patreon

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The B.E.E. Podcast - 5/31/18 - Jeff Shakoor - SILVER

🕑 Added 2018-05-31 14:13:58 +0000 UTC

Comments

Antonio Primavera

Wasn't this posted previously?

Kevin Doonan

My god! tell Jeff to back of that mic, yeesh lol

Gonzalo

Hey, did Jeff do coke at a point in his life? thought i heard him mentioning it

Kevin Larkin Angioli

I love when you discuss the singular and profound pleasures of reading. I've been thinking about going back to Wharton to fill in my many gaps with her for a couple years now, especially since reading Kate Bolick's excellent Spinster; this nudges me closer. Would be curious to hear your takes on Scorcese's Age of Innocence as an adaptation. I laughed in recognition of that moment of absolute refusal when someone is telling you that you have to spend several hours on mediocre or bad television to get to the supposedly good parts that will make it all worth it—I've had that moment so many times. Great take on A Quiet Place. I have been reading some fiction from decades past concurrently with contemporary works. There's some great stuff happening right now. At the same time, there's a level of self-awareness and performativeness as a consequence of social media and living on the internet that I find very offputting in a lot of work. Reading work like Peter Straub's output from the seventies and early eighties, I feel like there's a depth of literary craft and sophistication, as well as a trust that you can handle numerous characters, ambiguities, subplots, and timelines, across a five-hundred page novel that is just not present right now. A lot of people are reading and are passionate about it, but brevity is preferred, and so novels in the 200-300 page range are doing well and the short story collection is becoming more commercially viable while attracting significant critical attention. American literature has its roots in great short stories, so I like this trend. This episode may mark the first time you've mentioned Infinite Jest in at all a positive or warm tone. Has there been a shift? Have you finally finished it? Great to have you back.

Michael MacGowan

The House of Mirth. Ahhhh...

Louis Bruno

I wish Bret would just go back to talking by himself. I would rather hear his opinions and what he has to say more than a guest I have never heard of. But it's not like the guest wasn't interesting, Bret's opinions are far more interesting than the guest viewers are. The only three from the last podcast show I enjoy endlessly are Walter Hill, Paul Schraeder, and his intro on the Sam Outlaw, which I think described perfectly the toxic environment that the election had on us as a people. But overall, I wish people listened to Bret. He has a calming voice when everyone is just screaming at the top of their lungs about Trump. Literally, it's the reason why me and my father and sister don't talk that much anymore.

T

Unrivalled mood and atmosphere in today's podcast scene. This time really nice dip into books and growing up with literature.

Sami Majala

Thanks again, Bret! How about Rick Alverson as a guest? "The Comedy", what a movie, "The Entertainment", such a great work of art. Mr. Alverson is one of the original voices in the movie "business" right now, would be great to hear you guys talk!

Harman Virdee

Haha, loved that take on a Quiet Place - traditional values silenced by maniacal SJWs. Funny.

The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast

The Chateau ain't as swingin' as it used to be but you should definitely check it out! -Adam

Callan Wilks

Love to hear more takes about the literary fiction world. Get Lethem on the pod! Love your work.

David Kordahl

I love it when Bret talks to writers on the podcast. They might not have the "relevance" of some of his other guests, but at least they have stuff to say.

Stephen O'Flynn

Once again, Bret, your guests aren't worthy of you. New drinking game: a shot every time Jeff says "you know." Forget the guests (unless they're on a par with you intellectually) and just do it solo.

Laura Woods

Off topic question- is the Chateau Marmont still a chic hotel with a hot scene? Traveling to LA for the War on Drugs show at the Hollywood Bowl.

Shira Lev

The novel monologue has made me incredibly sad (while being extremely eloquent and well-put). I am 27 and sometimes I wonder if had it not been for my very well-read and bookish parents, would I still have such a strong spot in my heart in my heart for novels above all else (film. music, etc)? Listening to your descriptions of past times, I found myself nostalgic for a time I never even experienced. Also, I finished Kushner's novel a few weeks ago (which I highly anticipated all year) and ended up being very, very disappointed by it. I'm currenly reading "The Pisces" by Melissa Broder and it is terrific, IMO. I wish it'd never end.

James D. McCallister

Terrific podcast on any number of levels, but I found the discussion of the novel's modern downward trajectory of social and cultural relevance particularly poignant and insightful. A contemporary of BEE (ie, early 50s Gen X elder), I wanted only to accomplish one feat in life, to make my own attempt at the GAN, and which I've only recently completed to my satisfaction and will indie publish. Will it matter to anyone else? Not likely. But I managed to pull off my longstanding "white whale" art project, the satisfaction of which is considerable. My point here is that I think would-be novelists and writers of short fiction looking to indulge a fascinating and rewarding artistic pursuit should still write and publish, no doubt. But indeed, it seems literature's day as a mover and teacher of society at large is well into its cultural twilight.

The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast

I know. -Adam

The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast

In this episode we all learned that Jeff has quite an audible respiratory system... Won't typically be the case with future guests. Thanks Tony! -Adam

TVtony

Just a technical comment, but Jeff Shakoor was at times breathing into the microphone very heavily, even when Bret was talking for over a minute without interruption. Could you guys do something about that? It's terribly distracting.

Nick O'Mahoney

"You know."

Jonathan White

<a href="https://youtu.be/rt43AcKbHZE" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/rt43AcKbHZE</a> this isn’t a shameless plug bret i just want an honest critique the only thing i didn’t do was the edit

MidRangeG

This guy gives me the willies.

Chuck

I thought that’s what he said but couldn’t quite hear. So funny

The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast

IKR?! - B.A.

Senseless

so casual: "and it was around the time when they were having crazy threesomes and stuff, so you know--" 🤣🤣🤣

Chuck

Really enjoyed the guest and of course Brets take and overview of movies tv and novels. I do feel that books tend to stick with me much longer than a tv series. I enjoy this podcast because as Bret describes often it is difficult to navigate the vast sea of content when only limited time to indulge is available. I’ve started Atlanta enjoyed it a lot so far. Unfortunately I have to work a day job so I’ll continue to let Bret see the bad movies and let me know. I also appreciate the vocabulary Bret uses, feels like I’m surrounded constantly by internet slang.

Ben

Bret, really enjoying your podcast. Thanks and when will I see my sequel to American Psycho on the book shelves?

Brent L. Smith

prob a deviated septum

j

Bret, you've got such a hot and mellifluous voice. You should speak more on the deep imaginative intimacies between writer and reader. The mind's eye has a much more powerful aspect than devised visual arts. Keep these coming!

Jessica Matlin

Thank you for you doing this podcast. It is so necessary and a breath of fresh air right now. There is nothing like it. Please publish your non fiction book ASAP! I am gasping for it.

Mark Russ

Excellent as always. Thanks Brett.

Per AKA Narwhal

what's bret's boyfriends name? is it Josh? josh is like a little recurring character that pops up once in awhile and everyone wants to hear more. he is the bobba fett of the the podcast

Per AKA Narwhal

livin hard makes you breath super loud apparently. good podcast tho

LeRoi

Amazing talk as usual. Bret, really loved your thoughts on Edith Wharton, was almost transfixed just hearing you talk about classic works. I hope you relate thoughts on older works more often in upcoming podcasts, but I'm probably part of the minority bibliophile audience section... Small note Breathing from 1 HR 3min onwards sounds like someone is sleeping and snoring loudly LOL