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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
dark
funny
dark
slow-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
This book is gruesome yet utterly boring. I took about 30 day to week long breaks while reading this because I would get so bored with the flowery writing that I couldn't possibly read anymore. The plot and the intention of this book is great, but it is somehow one of the most depraved yet dullest book I have read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Abortion, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a difficult book, to say the least. Disturbing through and through, masterfully written, though... concerning... at times. I can definitely see why this book is not for everyone, beyond the graphic content, there are parts that are quite slow and repetitive but which are integral to the novel. This book really puts you into this deranged headspace and I'm still in shock and awe at how this was so beautifully and thoroughly woven together. I feel very deeply unwell after this one
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Abortion
dark
mysterious
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
tw: everything imaginable
It's dificult to rate this book.
As a piece of literature, it's good, very complex, unclear narrative, one wants to get behind the chaotic (/pos) narration. What is real, what is not? Does it even matter?
As a product to consume, it's mid. It's exhausting to read (purposefully, most likely, so good job Ellis): the gore is bloody, the animal cruelty is, well, cruel, the sexual acts (& assaults) are unbearable to read, the life of Patrick Bateman boring. You don't cheer for him. You just bear witness to what might or might not be happening. The objective and the subjective co-exist, in what way, who knows?
As a satirical work, eh. It is clearly satirical, and yet I cannot help but wonder about art and it's right to exist. Is for example fictional violence against women still violence? The same question that you consider throughout the entire book pops up: "Is all this real?"
Should it be banned - Of course not, it is art. But where does the line blur, though, because we should clearly ban works that are propaganda. But when does it start to become propaganda? And the next question you asked yourself pops up then, "does it even matter?" I don't even want to attempt to answer such a question.
I found myself skimming over the millionth description of designer outfits, expensive electronics and conversations that lack proper communication (once more, good job, Ellis, you drove the point home, i got it after the third time), questioning Patrick Bateman's train of thought and what the hell all these medications are while trying to figure out if the 'chapters' are in chronological order or not (not that it truly matters to understand the plot better, a 'yuppie' is always 27).
Yet I do enjoy these books. These books that make me think about them. So I had to give it 4 stars, even if it deserves 3 for not being a 5.
Last thoughts:
Young men idolize Pat Bateman online (due to the movie), so clearly, it is about the message, about the context of the medium that American Psycho's message - if it has one - has gotten lost (in the adaption?). Ellis himself reflects on the impact of this work at the end of my edition (the afterword includes an interview from 2012) & says that he himself was the inspiration to this book; reality clearly affects fiction, and how does fiction affect reality? Who knows.
It's dificult to rate this book.
As a piece of literature, it's good, very complex, unclear narrative, one wants to get behind the chaotic (/pos) narration. What is real, what is not? Does it even matter?
As a product to consume, it's mid. It's exhausting to read (purposefully, most likely, so good job Ellis): the gore is bloody, the animal cruelty is, well, cruel, the sexual acts (& assaults) are unbearable to read, the life of Patrick Bateman boring. You don't cheer for him. You just bear witness to what might or might not be happening. The objective and the subjective co-exist, in what way, who knows?
As a satirical work, eh. It is clearly satirical, and yet I cannot help but wonder about art and it's right to exist. Is for example fictional violence against women still violence? The same question that you consider throughout the entire book pops up: "Is all this real?"
Should it be banned - Of course not, it is art. But where does the line blur, though, because we should clearly ban works that are propaganda. But when does it start to become propaganda? And the next question you asked yourself pops up then, "does it even matter?" I don't even want to attempt to answer such a question.
I found myself skimming over the millionth description of designer outfits, expensive electronics and conversations that lack proper communication (once more, good job, Ellis, you drove the point home, i got it after the third time), questioning Patrick Bateman's train of thought and what the hell all these medications are while trying to figure out if the 'chapters' are in chronological order or not (not that it truly matters to understand the plot better, a 'yuppie' is always 27).
Yet I do enjoy these books. These books that make me think about them. So I had to give it 4 stars, even if it deserves 3 for not being a 5.
Last thoughts:
Young men idolize Pat Bateman online (due to the movie), so clearly, it is about the message, about the context of the medium that American Psycho's message - if it has one - has gotten lost (in the adaption?). Ellis himself reflects on the impact of this work at the end of my edition (the afterword includes an interview from 2012) & says that he himself was the inspiration to this book; reality clearly affects fiction, and how does fiction affect reality? Who knows.
dark
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
This book is crazy graphic but I liked Patrick's descent into more madness and the fact that nobody cares about each other and they're all assholes
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Tbh I don't understand what all the fuzz is about. It certainly has a few bits that are shocking, though pretty okay written, but it's faaaar outdone by all the six button double brested Armani suits and silk ties and expensive food descriptions. Don't get me wrong, I understand that the monotony of it all is meant to fit in how the horrible acts he commits are no different to his outings with friends or the asinine conversations about how one should wear a vest or a pocket square. Bateman has a pretty goofy inner monologs at times, and he definitely gives wall street dude bro vibes but... this DRAGGED. I did love that we never actually know what is really happening, this is definitely an unreliable narrator well done, and it's what makes me not give this a half star (that and the fact that I can't give half stars here).
Not my cup of tea
Not my cup of tea
Ikke les denne hvis du liker dexter fordi bateman er en helt annen type psykopat og jeg liker ikke psykopater likevel
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes