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nadiajohnsonbooks'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
2.5
Let's start with what I liked:
I loved the writing style: manic, rambling, and full of non sequiturs that give the genuine feel of intrusive thoughts. I liked the random chapters of music critique and the view into yuppie Manhattan in the late 80s.
The juxtaposition of mundanity and grotesque violence was jarring and really dialed up the horror in a satisfying way.
Elements of the satire (the absolute interchangeability of the Wall Street bros, the new Salvadorian bistro that everyone is excited about but no one ever seems to go to) worked for me.
But a few things didn't sit right with me even upon reflection.
Pat Bateman and all his compatriots are misogynists, racists, and general scumbags. Okay. But the overwhelming use of racial slurs and sexual violence as a plot device felt less like satire or character development and more like a fifteen year old edgelord trying to get his mom's attention.
I suspect my rating of this book will change a few times the more I consider it, but there's no question that it will stick with me.
Graphic: Murder, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Death, Racism, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Fatphobia, Sexism, Violence, Misogyny, Sexual content, Infidelity, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Gore, Child death, Cannibalism, Cursing, Torture, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Rape
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Gun violence
Minor: Abortion
elfsteel'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
3.75
Graphic: Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, Abortion, Child death, Body horror, Gore, Drug use, Xenophobia, Violence, Animal death, Torture, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Alcohol, Ableism, Gun violence, Cannibalism, Sexual violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Classism, Rape, Homophobia, Racism, and Physical abuse
dolores_lola's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Animal death, and Racial slurs
michaelion'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
1.75
A book is bad when I have to question what purpose it served humanity. I am a person who fundamentally believes that all art can be made with no reason or goal in mind; art for art's sake; art because the person who made it felt something, felt they had to get it out, felt they had something to share with the world. I read this book because I wanted to watch the movie, yes I'm that kind of person, and I wish I could unread it. What purpose did this book serve to the greater good of humanity? Fuck the greater good, what contribution to humanity does this book give? It has no analysis, no deeper introspection into the era, the mindset of the people. There's no meat on the bone that is this book.
It has its moments and its beauty, for sure. I love the stream of consciousness and unreliable narration, I love the speaking to the audience, the break rom reality and seeing things in the perspective of a movie, sure. Those elements are great. But as a whole? I never question why art is made. There's art I like and art I don't like. It's easy for me to spot art I like, It's easy for me to spot art I don't like, and there are definitely things that lie in a middle grey area, but for all three of those things I almost never question why it was made. It's an inherently fascist idea to say art should have a purpose else it is a waste of time or attention but this is one of the few exceptions I've encountered. The movie better be good after the shit I just read.
And to be clear, I'm not just mad at the content of the book. It was very upsetting sure, but
I tried to find it in my heart to give it a higher rating, I really did, but I can't lie to my future self who will reread this review and go "damn, the book was that bad?" Hi, future self. To answer your question: No. The book was much worse.
Graphic: Murder, Grief, Homophobia, Torture, Misogyny, Sexism, Body horror, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Animal death, Addiction, Child death, Hate crime, Racism, Animal cruelty, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Ableism, Death, Physical abuse, Cannibalism, Drug use, Blood, Classism, Gore, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Vomit, Antisemitism, Bullying, Confinement, Pandemic/Epidemic, Drug abuse, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, and Child abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Abortion
alyssaherrington'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
2.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Rape, Misogyny, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Hate crime, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Racism, Physical abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Violence, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
readingisl1fe'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: Sexual violence, Racism, Misogyny, Murder, and Gore
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
4.0
Graphic: Cannibalism, Child death, Child abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Animal death, Antisemitism, Cultural appropriation, Dementia, Drug use, Racism, Violence, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Miscarriage, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Stalking, Addiction, Car accident, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Cursing, Death, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Classism, Sexual content, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Torture
Moderate: Homophobia, Bullying, Fatphobia, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
wheresmyblanket's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Cursing, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Violence, Child death, Torture, Gore, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Racism, Rape, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Antisemitism, Animal cruelty, and Car accident
ashsparrow'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
4.5
Graphic: Torture, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Rape, Misogyny, Hate crime, Gore, Alcohol, Murder, Gun violence, Blood, Body horror, Drug use, Violence, Child death, Sexism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Antisemitism, Classism, Cursing, Death, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, and Vomit
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