RaveWashington Independent Review of Books\"The Shards is his most expressive and personal work, easily as entertaining as his debut, Less Than Zero, or his notorious American Psycho, but wiser and more sensitive than either ... The Shards may be Ellis’ answer to that backlash. As Bret is judged harshly by his friends and community, we readers have to ask how much of it is deserved given that he (and, by extension, the author) is merely showing us what we need to see.\
Adrienne Celt
RaveWashington Independent Review of BooksCelt deftly navigates a storytelling conundrum by condemning the inward focus of her characters while acknowledging that, in the face of problems too large for any individual, personal issues matter deeply. Thus, the question of whether Bertie and Kate can maintain their closeness feels significant even as the nation suffers through endless war and an energy crisis. At the same time, the author satirizes our shortsighted impracticality and inability to decide what’s really important ... End of the World House is thoughtful, funny, provocative, and creative. That Celt is also a successful cartoonist brings not only wit to her work but also connection between the writer and her protagonist ... The author has triumphed by rendering a personal tale against a backdrop of global significance.
