American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
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Web ID: 14388804Took me forever to finish
I cannot say this book was terrible, because it wasn’t. What I can say though is the book felt like a drag sometimes where all it did was describe pointless things like what people were wearing. There was a whole chapter dedicated to breaking apart a Huey Lewis album. Maybe I am missing the bigger picture and meaning of the long descriptions. When the book got good it was good, it just was a drag to read.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Capitalism Really Popped Off
American Psycho is exactly what it feels like to be at a party you desperately want to leave, but you don’t have a ride and can’t find an Uber. You can’t help but keep watching the monstrosity. You can’t look away. You’re entranced by the words on the page no matter how messed up and vulgar they are. Only reason why this is 4 and not 5 stars is because I know there’s no story and that might make people mad, but for me this is five stars. A masterpiece i’ll never read again.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Dark, yes fascinating
I expected many of the beats from the movie, but the insane level of detail in the book is impressive and an ugly level of disturbing. Both Ellis’ novel and Harron’s film both do an excellent job of establishing who Patrick Bateman is(n’t), in very different yet connected ways. The film displays his vain, suave and calculated characteristics most, the “Sigma Bale” persona we see online. But the book does an even better job at showing how Bateman BELIEVES he is these things, while in reality he is shallow, insecure and pathetic. Which he believes he makes up for in graphic acts of murder, rape and torture. There were points that truly felt like I was reading something I shouldn’t be. Things that make the film seem tame, comparable to infamous disturbing media like Serbian Film or Cannibal Holocaust. And he goes into deep dives of 80’s artists discographies, not once but THREE separate times. Much like the movie, it’s hard to say for sure what actually happened and how many of these violent acts Bateman actually committed. But while the movie keeps things interesting in an almost fun aspect, the book is just depraved from beginning to end. Well written and fascinating for sure, but it won’t be an easy one to come back to.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Themes and quotes
Here are four major themes of the book along with illustrative quotes: Materialism: Throughout the novel, the main character, Patrick Bateman, is obsessed with material possessions and status symbols. He constantly compares himself to others based on what brand of clothing or accessories they are wearing and spends a significant amount of money on designer items. Notable quotes: "I spend a minimum of three hours a day in the gym, pumping iron, working on my triceps, biceps, and abs, not to mention my calves and pecs" "I'm not a killer, I'm a businessman. I mean, I'm an investment banker" Consumerism: The novel also explores the consumer culture of the 1980s, where people were constantly bombarded with advertisements and encouraged to buy more and more products. This constant desire for consumer goods is portrayed as both a source of pleasure and a source of anxiety for the characters. Notable quotes: "I am not a killer; I am a consumer" "This is not a pipe, it's a Cartier. This is not a dress, it's a Chanel" Narcissism: The characters in "American Psycho" are all obsessed with their own appearance and image and are constantly seeking validation and attention from others. This narcissistic behavior is portrayed as both humorous and disturbing. Notable quotes: "I am simply the best dressed man in the world" "I am in the mood for a little bit of self-improvement" Violence and misogyny: The novel contains numerous graphic and disturbing descriptions of violence, particularly against women. This theme is used to highlight the disturbing and violent nature of the main character, as well as the toxic masculinity present in the world of Wall Street. Notable quotes: "I've been too good for too long. I need to do something bad" "I have all the characteristics of a human being: flesh, blood, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust"
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Amazing Book
Yes, there is a lot of rambling that goes on for many pages, that's the point. This satire and criticism of the 1980s yuppie culture and the rise of materialism within the United States are truly amazing. Coming from a huge Christian Bale fan, the movie does not do this book as much justice as it deserves. Throughout my read, I found myself laughing, sharing quotes with others, physically recoiling, and having to put the book down for the rest of the day because of certain chapters. I cannot say that I would necessarily recommend this book due to its graphic content, but it is easily a top five for me.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Wtf book but ok
This is honestly a very interesting book. It's extremely messed up on so many levels but so intriguing at the same time, it has that weird awe. I did have to put it down a few times due to certain scenes being a bit much but I'm almost done and I will finish it! I would recommend this to people with very dark humor, who can withstand very uncomfortable scenes, and like the movie.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Nihilist p*rn
This “novel” consists of vapid vignettes (don’t look for anything even remotely resembling a plot) narrated by and focused on the savage and superficial appetites of Patrick Bateman, a character apparently meant to darkly satirize the self-indulgent commercial values of the “greed is good” 1980s. Bateman, who works in finance in NYC, is a narcissist—he cares only about how he looks, which women he can seduce, his perceived social status, Donald Trump (presciently appropriate), and the topic of the day on The Patty Winters Show, a daytime talk show that, for some reason, he is obsessed with. Patrick is also obsessed with murdering people, especially women (some of whom are paid escorts), in the most bizarrely brutal and sadistic ways imaginable. The passages in the text (and there are quite a few) that describe the torture and execution of Patrick’s victims are nearly unreadable in their s*xual sadism and gory, ghoulish excess. Patrick murders the homeless, delivery boys, some members of his social circle, animals, his s*x partners, and even a young boy. Unencumbered by morals, compassion, or a conscience, he takes glee in these murders. Other things that bring him glee: drugs, money, making reservations and dining at hip new restaurants, fashion, and music. At random points in the text, Patrick interrupts the chronicle of his mayhem by inserting career retrospectives and reviews of Genesis, Whitney Houston, and Huey Lewis and the News. And that’s pretty much it. Every character is two-dimensional (none is likeable), there is no recognizable plot to speak of, and nothing means anything. I have absolutely no desire to ever read another thing Bret Easton Ellis has written.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com