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7.47k reviews for:

American Psycho

Bret Easton Ellis

3.59 AVERAGE

challenging dark reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Captivating and at the same time I have to pause several times because of how graphic the scenes are. It was mentally disturbing and I think I have to read a lighter book after this. Crazy, macabre, disturbing.

I am not sure on how to rate the book, up until now I can't fathom if I liked it or not. Similarly, if Bateman has done the those gruesome actions or not. I guess, it doesn't really matter.


I have never ever read a book that caused me so much emotional distress. I hate it so much, it is so horrible and i hated every minute of it. It sucks. This whole book sucks and I've never hated any character as much as I hated basically every character in this book, but mostly the protagonist. It is, however, the intended effect of this cluster**** so 4/5 good job at writing the words worst book.
dark sad tense slow-paced
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

not really gripping my attention 
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

This book started a month long reading slump as I was trying to get through it. I had such high hopes but I was continuously bored. The chapter on Whitney Houston was a highlight but not enough for me to rate it any higher than I have. 

DNF
challenging dark funny tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Unfortunately, a very funny book. Unpleasant to read, but the characters are written with such thinly-veiled contempt it becomes a car crash you can’t look away from. A truly anti-social book from beginning to end.

Captures the consumerism-induced psychosis of the 80s very well. Also an interesting pseudo-study of cultural/design trends, especially when compared to the very different brand of consumerism-induced psychosis of the current day. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

This novel was bizarre but fascinating. I enjoyed it and couldn't stop reading but at times it had me completely baffled. I'm not sure what to think of it, but whenever I wasn't reading I was thinking about Patrick. I kept thinking he was going to accidently return one of his tapes when he was returning videos that he had rented.

The last 50 pages or so it almost felt like Patrick would be redeemed in some way, but I knew this wasn't the case. He's insane, everyone around him is insane in a way. They're all obsessed with clothes and money and being cool. They don't even notice each other.

There was no real ending, but there was no real way to end it either. I know I'll need to read this again, but not for a long time.

Too graphic, no overarching storyline to latch onto; it physically hurt to pick this up and read it, and it has almost every -ism in the book. I just read about him killing and brutalizing this poor woman and I realized...maybe I don't have to finish this book.