Boycott of ‘Psycho’ Publisher Debated

Regarding the furor over Bret Easton Ellis’ third novel: When mediocre prose no longer draws readers, a desperate writer may resort to shock value. Such is the case with Ellis, whose second book was a miserable failure. What a pity he chose resorting to gross and mean-spirited material instead of striving to be a better writer. And Ellis, in lazy and cowardly fashion, chose an easy target--women, who still provide disturbingly easy victims in literature and life.

What confuses me is why the National Organization for Women plays into Ellis’ hands, particularly with the phone hot line allowing callers to hear excerpts of this warped material. Objecting to Ellis’ misogyny and boycotting his books are fine. Giving him free publicity by making his brutality available to all with just a phone call seems counterproductive.

You can’t censor Bret Easton Ellis. So why not just ignore him? Don’t buy his book.

JENNY MEAD

Los Angeles