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A review by edelstein
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Ellis has a colorful command of language, especially when it comes to the description of mutilated bodies, much to the displeasure of my stomach. As the novel went on I would spend more time scanning through pages with a grimace on my face as he described the charred, oozing, grafted, gaping holes of the corpses left in Bateman's wake . The violence bordered on gratuitous at times but in the world Ellis paints it was never out of place.
The book delivered it's core message well, but was willing to sacrifice the reader's enjoyment for this. No character entered a scene without a handful of paragraphs describing their type of cuffs, tie, coat, the way it was set, and the brands it hailed from, emphasizing Bateman's worldview. Long after the message was delivered, this pattern stayed strong. For the entire novel. It was effective, but again, a prime culprit of what dragged this novel out to near 400 pages.
All in all, to see where the movie adaptation drew from adds a lot to the viewing experience, but not enough to recommend this to others.
The book delivered it's core message well, but was willing to sacrifice the reader's enjoyment for this. No character entered a scene without a handful of paragraphs describing their type of cuffs, tie, coat, the way it was set, and the brands it hailed from, emphasizing Bateman's worldview. Long after the message was delivered, this pattern stayed strong. For the entire novel. It was effective, but again, a prime culprit of what dragged this novel out to near 400 pages.
All in all, to see where the movie adaptation drew from adds a lot to the viewing experience, but not enough to recommend this to others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Gun violence, Death, Animal death, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Rape, Misogyny, Hate crime, Sexism, Racism, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Classism, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, Blood, Antisemitism, Animal cruelty, and Addiction