Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - American Psycho

i would give this book 4 stars, but with the amount of graphic violence against mostly women it doesn't feel right. the novel is incredibly compelling though and the stream of consciousness style is very interesting. but pls look at the cws and take breaks for your own sanity and well-being

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issyd23's review against another edition

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dark funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Great book. I want to read Paul Owen’s novel.

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abbeyhuffine94's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

**Trigger warning: everything and they're severe! Specifically animal cruelty and death, human torture and death, sexual assault, but those are the main ones.**

Absolute masterpiece honestly. I don't know that I enjoyed this book exactly. I enjoyed certain aspects and it was actually hilarious at parts. There were other parts that made me want to tap out due to the horrific cruelty. It also seemed boring at times but that felt very intentional. Showing the mundane of the "American psycho's" life when not committing atrocious acts.

I have a theory on what it means and "did Patrick really commit these crimes or was it just his fantasy?"** So there are spoilers from here out:**
Yes, he did. However, he only involved those on the fringes of society (sex workers, homeless individuals) so it was like it didn't happen as far as the wall street elite were concerned because those people didn't matter to them. Patrick never involved his upper class dates in his gory acts though he did fantasize about it.
The way he is not believed/ flat out ignored when he confesses to these crimes to his peers goes to show they only see what they want to see in their world. They're blind to what doesn't fit their schema. On the other hand, the "bums" and cab drivers (the poor class) recognize Patrick and his crimes because his violence fits their schema.
People only see what the world typically shows them and ignore what doesn't fit their worldview. The privileged wealthy new yorkers can ignore Patrick's violence because it's too messy and scary and doesn't concern them. The lower rungs of new York society don't have that luxury and are all too acquainted with violence and mistreatment.
Patrick is then essentially two people which is reflective of the two realities in 1980s new york: boy next door, polite, handsome Patrick that reflects the experience of the upper class elite and monstrous, psychopathic, evil Patrick that reflects the brutal and violent experience of the impoverished.
The elite are indifferent to the suffering of the impoverished. Patrick's violence and confessions are a metaphor for this apathy.

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