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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
I was thinking about this book again and saw I only gave it 3 stars, which is something I have to amend. How is such a horrifying book also so funny? I've been talking about the NAMELESS DREAD for several years now and I finally realized it's from this. He might be a one trick pony but this book is kind of genius, and I think it's time for a re-read.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So I'm finding this book a difficult one to rate and review. While this book does a good job of portraying an American psycho (haha hence the title), I found the book nowhere nearing my expectations.
I expected this book to be gory- I mean the book is technically about a serial killer. What I didn't expect was exactly how disturbing the gory parts were. The fact that the author dreamed up these acts for his fictional character to commit kind of creeps me out- I mean he had to have gotten ideas from somewhere, right?
The other part that didn't meet my expectations was the level of excitement in this story. With all the rave reviews for this book I had anticipated a story that would keep me wanting to read more- as opposed to what the story actually is, dull and boring. Bateman, the main character, spends a lot of time describing exactly what everyone is wearing and the designer that made their clothes, along with where they likely bought them. There are also entire chapters devoted to the descriptions of certain musicians complete works up to the time period in which the story takes place. Ugh. It stands to reason that Bateman would be a materialist but the constant monotony of clothing descriptions really wore me down as a reader. I would have enjoyed the story more if there was a little less monotony in the descriptions.
Overall, I can't say that I enjoyed 'American Psycho' but I also can't say that I hated it. I'm glad that I read the book, but I'm also glad that I will never have to read it again.
I expected this book to be gory- I mean the book is technically about a serial killer. What I didn't expect was exactly how disturbing the gory parts were. The fact that the author dreamed up these acts for his fictional character to commit kind of creeps me out- I mean he had to have gotten ideas from somewhere, right?
The other part that didn't meet my expectations was the level of excitement in this story. With all the rave reviews for this book I had anticipated a story that would keep me wanting to read more- as opposed to what the story actually is, dull and boring. Bateman, the main character, spends a lot of time describing exactly what everyone is wearing and the designer that made their clothes, along with where they likely bought them. There are also entire chapters devoted to the descriptions of certain musicians complete works up to the time period in which the story takes place. Ugh. It stands to reason that Bateman would be a materialist but the constant monotony of clothing descriptions really wore me down as a reader. I would have enjoyed the story more if there was a little less monotony in the descriptions.
Overall, I can't say that I enjoyed 'American Psycho' but I also can't say that I hated it. I'm glad that I read the book, but I'm also glad that I will never have to read it again.
Debating whether to give this book 4.5 stars or 5 stars and ended up with... current rating. Might or might not change it later.
Nevertheless, this book is... haunting. It's the kind of book that lives me with the impression of, "wait, what happened?" The main character, Patrick Bateman, the 'American Psychopath' is horrible, sexist, racist, overall terrible, so it's definitely not for everyone (definitely, especially if you're easily offended or scared.) but I'm a huge fan of stream of consciousness and unreliable narrator, so it's a huge plus for me. It's a dark piece of art done well. Also I laugh out a lot at some parts. This will probably be one of the book I will never forget reading.
Nevertheless, this book is... haunting. It's the kind of book that lives me with the impression of, "wait, what happened?" The main character, Patrick Bateman, the 'American Psychopath' is horrible, sexist, racist, overall terrible, so it's definitely not for everyone (definitely, especially if you're easily offended or scared.) but I'm a huge fan of stream of consciousness and unreliable narrator, so it's a huge plus for me. It's a dark piece of art done well. Also I laugh out a lot at some parts. This will probably be one of the book I will never forget reading.
challenging
dark
tense
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
I hate that you read the first 50 pages of this and know exactly what to expect for the rest of the novel. I do believe that Bret Easton Ellis is a deeply talented writer, and I fell in love with his most recent novel, The Shards. This just… dragged. Consider yourself briefed with a trigger warning for every hateful topic you can think of, with a backbone of raging misogyny. I get it, I just don’t like it. Plain and simple. Even Ellis himself gets uncomfortable when people say they love his book. I take no shame in letting a book not connect to me because the character was that terrible. Good writing, lousy story. 10/10, wouldn’t read again… But still impressed by the damn writing… the detail….
Dull. Boring. Mindless.
Even Ellis himself admits that it’s boring in his 2012 Paris Review interview that’s included as the Afterward. That’s right after he admits to being a misogynist.
Skip this one. Read The Map and the Territory instead.
Even Ellis himself admits that it’s boring in his 2012 Paris Review interview that’s included as the Afterward. That’s right after he admits to being a misogynist.
Skip this one. Read The Map and the Territory instead.
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A great book, but a very tough read! Excruciating detail that I couldn’t handle in parts 😅
“It strikes me profoundly that the world is more often than not a bad and cruel place.”
Obviously very familiar with Mary Harron’s film adaptation, but this is my first time reading the novel (and Bret Easton Ellis in general). The novel is expertly written in first person point of view, putting us in the mind of this character and seeing his actions (if you believe them to be real). Ellis is a special writer that I plan to read more of.
Taking this as a novel on its own, not relating to the film, this is brilliant. A book filled with internalized violence of thoughts, a world lived through items, people who only exist as what they own, and (imagined) acts of heinous violence. Oh, and it happens to be hilarious. Bret Easton Ellis is using Bateman to show the internalization of terrible things in the mind of men that will never be self-examined. Specifically, the inherent violence and obsession of appearance of the rich. Can understand why this would be controversial, it is graphically violent and hard to confront, but it is an examination of the personalities spawned by the over-consumption that the modern world encourages. People aren’t people, they are a collection of things purchased.
A violent confession of nothing, essentially. I loved it.
“it did not occur to me, ever, that people were good or that a man was capable of change or that the world could be a better place through one’s taking pleasure in a feeling or a look or a gesture, of receiving another person’s love or kindness. Nothing was affirmative, the term “generosity of spirit” applied to nothing, was a cliché, was some kind of bad joke.”
Obviously very familiar with Mary Harron’s film adaptation, but this is my first time reading the novel (and Bret Easton Ellis in general). The novel is expertly written in first person point of view, putting us in the mind of this character and seeing his actions (if you believe them to be real). Ellis is a special writer that I plan to read more of.
Taking this as a novel on its own, not relating to the film, this is brilliant. A book filled with internalized violence of thoughts, a world lived through items, people who only exist as what they own, and (imagined) acts of heinous violence. Oh, and it happens to be hilarious. Bret Easton Ellis is using Bateman to show the internalization of terrible things in the mind of men that will never be self-examined. Specifically, the inherent violence and obsession of appearance of the rich. Can understand why this would be controversial, it is graphically violent and hard to confront, but it is an examination of the personalities spawned by the over-consumption that the modern world encourages. People aren’t people, they are a collection of things purchased.
A violent confession of nothing, essentially. I loved it.
“it did not occur to me, ever, that people were good or that a man was capable of change or that the world could be a better place through one’s taking pleasure in a feeling or a look or a gesture, of receiving another person’s love or kindness. Nothing was affirmative, the term “generosity of spirit” applied to nothing, was a cliché, was some kind of bad joke.”
i too, like to go on long rants about music
Score: 82/100
Score: 82/100