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levitatingnumeral'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? It's complicated
4.0
Let’s start from what I loved most: Bateman’s vapid monologues. I see many reviews saying they made the book incredibly dull, but I actually found them to be unbelievably valuable in showing just how superficial and self-obsessed Bateman is. It’s clear he is completely unaware of the utter indifference anyone else would show towards his obsession with himself, and Bret’s narration is flawless. It truly felt like I was hearing a narcissist talking, 100% immersion.
On the other hand, I must admit I struggled a bit to keep track of the level of Bateman’s unreliability. Since the characters were (purposefully) so similar, at times I would catch myself wondering if it truly was Bateman unreliably reporting the actions of his peers or if it was me mixing up the characters. I will give Bret the benefit of the doubt, though, because maybe this was the very effect he wanted to create. He has talked about how the core of the plot is something he himself is unsure of and left open for interpretation, so perhaps it was his intent to make us readers wonder at all times whether we were misremembering or if it was a lie. It would make perfect sense, in the context of Bateman’s constant manipulation.
What I definitely wanted more of, though, was… a certain kind of consistency in two specific aspects:
1. The effect of drugs on Bateman. We see him, at one point, break down and practically black out. But after the worst occurrence, it seems like this aspect was just left out.
2. The ending. It felt so abrupt I was completely lost. I wanted maybe a few more threads to be pulled tighter. I don’t want answers, but maybe I would’ve enjoyed if I had relevant, confusing points being weaved into a torn, fuzzy, mismatching fabric to drive home just how unsure I should be.
Graphic: Vomit, Death, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Excrement, Murder, Body horror, Gore, Rape, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Abortion, Hate crime, Homophobia, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Classism, Cannibalism, Alcohol, Racism, Antisemitism, Drug use, and Gaslighting
Minor: Racial slurs, Eating disorder, and Biphobia
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
ahh_listen'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: Rape, Animal death, Homophobia, Child death, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Murder, and Blood
freyabarton'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
Graphic: Racial slurs, Cannibalism, Death, Torture, Violence, Drug use, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Body horror, Murder, and Child death
laurengvrce'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
3.75
Graphic: Sexual violence, Death, Torture, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Genocide, Violence, Body horror, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Gun violence, Classism, Racism, and Racial slurs
Minor: Child death
moosereads1'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
That being said, there were several things I took issue with in this book. For starters, the countless pages full of misogyny, racism, and homophobia drove me nuts. Yes, it helps convey how awful Bateman is (though you'd think the serial killer part would convey that enough), but it felt so excessive.
Speaking of excess, this probably could have lost at least 100 pages if all the repetitive name brands were removed. Every page it felt like was Armani this, Ralph Lauren that. This was seen in the descriptions of restaurants and food as well - going to this restaurant and getting reservations at that restaurant and getting this food and that food every single time... if anything, props to Easton for coming up with dishes like salmon meatloaf and jalapeno pudding. I know it was designed this way to show just how materialistic rich people are, especially with the comments that more expensive = inherently better, but it made a large portion of the book mind-numbingly boring. I really struggled to get through the first half of the book because it was so slow and I was so bored. It didn't help that some of the gore bordered on gratuitous, serving very little purpose after a certain point.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. A satirical horror story that commented on the narcissism and materialism of the rich? It should have been a fantastic read, but it just wasn't. Pages upon pages of monotonous descriptions of clothing brands and bizarre foods to bore the reader followed by the whiplash of outright pornographic scenes and graphic gore did not make for an enjoyable story, and this is coming from someone who has absolutely no issue with disturbing/gory books and movies. It just wasn't it for me.
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Sexual violence, Racism, Torture, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Cannibalism, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Classism, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Animal death, Blood, Gore, Violence, Cursing, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexism, Murder, and Sexual harassment
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
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
zazzyb's review against another edition
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Classism, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Violence, Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Body horror