Reviews tagging 'Schizophrenia/Psychosis '

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

134 reviews

emipov's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

I have no idea how to rate this. It’s the most deranged thing I have ever read but masterfully executed. Excessive in every sense, viscerally sickening, and undoubtedly brilliant. I certainly won’t be reading it again, and part of me wants to burn it, but am I glad I read it? I really don’t know. I’m relieved it’s over, though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Outing, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

nofunerals's review against another edition

dark funny 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

2.75

it was quite funny, more ridiculous, really, but the lack of plot was evident; though concealed by pages upon pages of music reviews, description of clothing and skin care routine.
overall, there was nothing going on, and while i think that was the point, it doesn‘t make it good.
it wasn‘t so much disgusting as it was a joke.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Miscarriage

laval's review against another edition

challenging dark funny tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I found out about this book after watching the movie, so I am just a tad biased because I found the movie hilarious and wanted more. This book is a great commentary about the yuppie culture and an interesting take on how capitalism fuels this toxicity. It is disturbing at times, do not get me wrong. very disturbing. the layers of symbolism and care written into each sentence of this book should not be overlooked, and Patrick is written perfectly. We truly get a glimpse of what is going on inside his head and how disturbing his thought process really is. The author does a wonderful job making sure the audience knows that Patrick is bad, and a loser. He is shown to not be cool, hot yuppie, but instead a massive, mentally deranged loser. Many times are shown where Patrick is just outright making a fool of himself just to fit in.

Take for example the small scene where he is in a hip hop bar with a primarily black crowd and proceeds to try and "act cool" by throwing up peace signs and "talking hip." Or in my personal favourite chapter "A Glimpse into Thursday Afternoon." Patrick is having some sort of mental breakdown and proceeds to shoplift a can of spam. He then takes it to a luxury apartment building where he is only let in for his looks, but then is immediately kicked out when he opens the spam and violently shoves handfuls of it into his mouth

  The author really does make a point to show that Patrick is no better than the people he mocks, he just thinks he is better because he is rich and looks good. I think this has to be a favourite for me personally due to all the care put into it, plus it is all I could ask for really. I picked this book up wanting more funny moments with Patrick and I got so many more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Stalking

This book is a satire and if you think any of Patrick Bateman's actions are justified at all, please see someone. Nothing presented in this book is meant to give the reader that the impression of this is okay. Be weary of one's mental state before reading this as Patrick has many intrusive and negative thoughts. Also be warned of graphic sex and violence. And when I say graphic I put heavy emphasis on that word.

jbowey96's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-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

2.0

I didn't know what to expect with this novel, I had an audible credit and downloaded it because I know it's considered a classic. I knew the main character was a murderer, but that's pretty much it. 
The majority of the book (until just over the halfway mark) was mainly descriptions of Armani suits and various different descriptions of which designers people are wearing. At first I just thought it was weird but it became tedious very quickly and I started to lapse in concentration.
Suddenly, it felt, I was being hit with the graphic murder/rape/cannibalistic chapters out of nowhere which were incredibly disturbing, but I have to admit also probably the most engaging part of the whole story. 
The end confused me a little, and to be totally honest it felt a little unsatisfactory/anticlimactic. 
Spoilers:
The main character Patrick Bateman appears to have a psychotic break but ultimately gets away with what he's done (in the legal sense if not karmic). Well, either that or he didn't actually murder anyone as I've seen some argue, but I'm not sure about that. I tried to enjoy this book but I'm not sure I succeeded.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Cannibalism, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis