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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
๐ชSpoiler Free Book Review๐ช
โข
โ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐น ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ? ๐ข๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ?โ
โข
TW: Iโll just list the big ones...graphic violence, graphic sex, animal torture, death of a child. Now, if that didnโt turn you away, Iโll set the scene.
โข
I am wearing cotton & polyester leisure pants, a black cotton & polyester t-shirt that says โMy 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. Whoโs Patrick Bateman? Heโs a successful Wall Street business man. Heโs a psychotic serial killer. Is he both...or perhaps neither?
โข
This book is every bit as disturbing as you may have heard but if youโre expecting to read blood and guts on every page, youโre in for quite a surprise. Turn to any page and chances are youโll 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 oneโs mental health.
โข
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 80โs. His coke-fueled, materialistic world is filled with people so shallow and superficial that theyโre 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 whoโs who or whatโs real.
โข
The writing style is like nothing Iโve read before. There is no real character development or plot. There are enough brand names to make your eyes numb, and maybe thatโs the point. I didnโt skim. I read every word, every page, and while the violence was graphic to a degree that Iโve never read before, I found myself feeling sensitized to it the same way I did the designer clothes or restaurant reservations. Again, maybe thatโs the point. And while it can be monotonous, if you skip past the โboringโ parts, I think youโll miss the true genius of the writing.
โข
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 theyโll be in my head for days and weeks ahead. Lord knows Iโll 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, Iโve got to go. I have to return some videotapes.
โข
โ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐น ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ? ๐ข๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ?โ
โข
TW: Iโll just list the big ones...graphic violence, graphic sex, animal torture, death of a child. Now, if that didnโt turn you away, Iโll set the scene.
โข
I am wearing cotton & polyester leisure pants, a black cotton & polyester t-shirt that says โMy 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. Whoโs Patrick Bateman? Heโs a successful Wall Street business man. Heโs a psychotic serial killer. Is he both...or perhaps neither?
โข
This book is every bit as disturbing as you may have heard but if youโre expecting to read blood and guts on every page, youโre in for quite a surprise. Turn to any page and chances are youโll 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 oneโs mental health.
โข
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 80โs. His coke-fueled, materialistic world is filled with people so shallow and superficial that theyโre 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 whoโs who or whatโs real.
โข
The writing style is like nothing Iโve read before. There is no real character development or plot. There are enough brand names to make your eyes numb, and maybe thatโs the point. I didnโt skim. I read every word, every page, and while the violence was graphic to a degree that Iโve never read before, I found myself feeling sensitized to it the same way I did the designer clothes or restaurant reservations. Again, maybe thatโs the point. And while it can be monotonous, if you skip past the โboringโ parts, I think youโll miss the true genius of the writing.
โข
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 theyโll be in my head for days and weeks ahead. Lord knows Iโll 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, Iโve got to go. I have to return some videotapes.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Racism