A review by bozzi1
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

challenging dark funny slow-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

๐Ÿ”ชSpoiler Free Book Review๐Ÿ”ช
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โ€œ๐—œ๐˜€ ๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—น ๐˜€๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚ ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ? ๐—ข๐—ฟ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ถ๐˜ ๐˜€๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚ ๐—ฑ๐—ผ?โ€œ
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TW: Iโ€™ll just list the big ones...graphic violence, graphic sex, animal torture, death of a child. Now, if that didnโ€™t turn you away, Iโ€™ll set the scene. 
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I am wearing cotton & polyester leisure pants, a black cotton & polyester t-shirt that says โ€˜My weekend is all bookedโ€™, and white socks by Adidas. I am wearing glasses by Ann Taylor. They are prescription. I am not tan and am not a hardbody. Patrick Bateman would not be impressed. Whoโ€™s Patrick Bateman? Heโ€™s a successful Wall Street business man. Heโ€™s a psychotic serial killer. Is he both...or perhaps neither?
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This book is every bit as disturbing as you may have heard but if youโ€™re expecting to read blood and guts on every page, youโ€™re in for quite a surprise. Turn to any page and chances are youโ€™ll instead see a detailed description of an outfit (probably double-breasted wool), a workout routine, or a meal. American Psycho is really a dark, satirical comedy that takes a hard look at consumerism in America and how it can affect oneโ€™s mental health. 
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Written almost entirely in first person narrative, we are plunged straight into the mind of Bateman, a handsome and wealthy twenty-something, living in New York in the 80โ€™s. His coke-fueled, materialistic world is filled with people so shallow and superficial that theyโ€™re interchangeable, and mean far less to Patrick than having the right outfit, haircut, or business card. As we go along the story alternates between the mundane and the maniacal, between reality and fantasy, making it impossible to know whoโ€™s who or whatโ€™s real. 
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The writing style is like nothing Iโ€™ve read before. There is no real character development or plot. There are enough brand names to make your eyes numb, and maybe thatโ€™s the point. I didnโ€™t skim. I read every word, every page, and while the violence was graphic to a degree that Iโ€™ve never read before, I found myself feeling sensitized to it the same way I did the designer clothes or restaurant reservations. Again, maybe thatโ€™s the point. And while it can be monotonous, if you skip past the โ€œboringโ€ parts, I think youโ€™ll miss the true genius of the writing. 
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This book is not for everyone. Many will find it too boring or alternately, too graphic. I found it utterly fantastic. Yes, some scenes were so monstrous theyโ€™ll be in my head for days and weeks ahead. Lord knows Iโ€™ll never look at a rat the same way again. But I found myself laughing out loud much more often than I was cringing in horror. What does that say about me? I, uh, you know what, Iโ€™ve got to go. I have to return some videotapes. 

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