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clare2772's review against another edition
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Xenophobia, Fatphobia, Violence, Death, Racism, Addiction, Blood, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Cannibalism, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Cursing, Child death, Infidelity, Murder, Misogyny, Gore, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Vomit, Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Classism, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
menderash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual assault, Mass/school shootings, Sexism, Racism, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Rape, Car accident, Drug use, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Sexual violence, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Fatphobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
sarah_piette's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Abortion, Cannibalism, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Torture, Violence, Classism, Antisemitism, Child death, Drug use, Rape, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Death
evelyncore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Sexism, Stalking, Violence, Antisemitism, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Body horror, Blood, Torture, Vomit, Gaslighting, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Kidnapping, Cursing, Classism, Hate crime, Body shaming, Animal death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Rape, Cannibalism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Ableism and Addiction
Minor: Abortion
zoehakim's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Drug abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Antisemitism, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Cannibalism, Rape, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexism, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Dementia, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Body shaming, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Xenophobia, Fatphobia, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Eating disorder
punishercoded's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Drug use, Gore, Body horror, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexism, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Death, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
emamno's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Graphic: Gaslighting, Gore, Body horror, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Alcoholism, Animal death, Sexual content, Racism, Drug use, Ableism, Abortion, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexism, Car accident, Racial slurs, Cannibalism, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Child death, Fatphobia, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Violence, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Addiction, Dysphoria, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body shaming, Classism, Antisemitism, and Eating disorder
I almost threw up reading itewalshy's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Blood, Racism, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Torture, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Gore, Drug use, and Rape
sidekicksam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I won't be giving a summary of the premise - we all know the story. I don't think I've ever written such an extensive brain dump before, but then again, American Psycho will evoke strong feelings. If you're planning on reading this, don't read on and just go ahead and read it. But beware of the trigger warnings because the violence and gore is everything you heard about and worse. Also: if you do read this in its entirety: thank you and I'm sorry for all the rambling.
Some random thoughts that have floated in and out of my mind when I just finished it:
- Is this how men feel when they read unhinged women books?
- I don't think I've ever had such physical reactions to reading passages in a book, ever.
- Is this the most fucked up thing I've ever read?
- Is this one of the best things I've ever read? Is it?
After sleeping on it, and letting it simmer for a bit (
Pat Bateman is a white, rich, and handsome man, but those who have it all and never have to worry a day in their life also bear a great deal of boredom and emptiness. We see it in the characters other than the protagonist of The Secret History, as well as the main character of My Year of Rest and Relaxation. For some reason, these people don't seem to be equipped to deal with the mundanity of the world. Of life.
Who would? If you don't cook a day in your life because going out to a different restaurant every night is something everyone in your social circle does, and if you can get cocaine as easily as a pack of gum in the supermarket, what else is special anymore? What do you have to make you feel something? Bear in mind that dysfunctional families that value appearances and out-shining each other over actual loving and caring relationships are the norm in the upper class, and it's no wonder our protagonist doesn't feel anything.
The ego-centric mindset of the characters in this book is so well written, I don’t think I’ve rolled my eyes even once. Despite having followed them on several nights out, dates and dinners, I have no real sense of who the characters besides Bateman actually were or did. I don’t think he did either. But then again, they also mistake each other for other people all the time too, and they all don't care about being mistaken for someone else either.
The consumer state-of-mind, with the (imagined?) competition for who has the best clothing, taste in women/restaurants/drugs, uses the proper skin care products and who takes care of their body best, is central to the book, and is what makes it such a relatable work of satire. I (obviously) can’t relate to Bateman’s homicidal tendencies, but I can sure understand why he’d be obsessed with having the fanciest business card or the newest of the new stuff.
And to just state the most insanely amazing thing about this book: I don’t think I’ve ever had any other feelings for a serial killer than pure loathing, but he’s so well written: you get what drives him to do it? He’s an absolute repugnant, foul, disgusting human being, but if you don’t have to worry a day in your life about money, retaining your job, or even getting caught, it's little wonder this is what money and power drives you to.
It would have made him a better person if he decided to get a thrill or some feeling by helping in war zones or doing another extreme sport every day, but it wouldn’t have made him such a compelling character. (I hereby promise that if I ever get that filthy rich, I'll just buy libraries and drown myself in books rather than go down the Bateman road)
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Classism, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Sexual violence, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
froschgefuehle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence