Reviews

American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis

spookymidwesternreader's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny 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

5.0

This book will haunt my nightmares but it was absolutely worth it. I've always loved the movie and figured it was about time to finally read the book. Take everything from the movie and dial it up several notches, the brutality and the satirical ramblings about furniture and suits. It's not a book for everyone, and it's difficult to say that it was enjoyable due to all the graphic violence and rats, but it was. 

biancced's review against another edition

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4.0

man fuck patrick bateman 

anim0rphs's review against another edition

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5.0

I read this book back in high school, or maybe fresh out of high school and thought it had some of the most horrific mutilation scenes ever. Now that I'm 25 and a seasoned horror book reader and horror movie enthusiast, I was curious to see if I would still feel the same way about this book. And yup, its still one of the most fucked up books I've read.

Besides the obvious appeal for the horror fan, what a great book for exploring classism, racism, sexism, homophobia, for exploring everything wrong with the white upper class. I forgot how funny this book is too. I enjoyed it even more the second time around.

leasaurusrex's review against another edition

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1.0

Je savais Bret Easton Ellis maître du scandale. Je connaissais sa réputation sulfureuse, mais je ne m'attendais pas à une telle lecture.

La prose, verbieuse, est vraiment désagréable à lire, les considérations pour chaque détail de l'habillement des personnages qui croisent notre "héros", Patrick Bateman, sont inintéressantes, de même que ses descriptions matérielles, ou ses critiques musicales. On se perd dans des descriptions sans fin, qui ne sont qu'un étalage de marques, et dont je me fiche éperdument, personnellement.

Le début laisse donc d'abord un goût amer de débauche entre yuppies, ces riches cadres new-yorkais, qui ne savent plus quoi faire de leur argent. Bien vite, on se rend compte qu'un truc cloche avec Patrick Bateman, cela dit.

Au début plutôt innocent, et même presque prometteur, il semble relever le niveau de ses collègues aux discours fumants. Mais petit à petit, on se rend compte que tout ça n'est que façade, et on suit le personnage qui perd pied dans sa propre folie et nous emmène aux confins de l'horreur. J'ai rarement été aussi dégoûtée à la lecture d'un livre, mais certaines scènes sont simplement à vomir.

Avec un début ennuyeux et une suite simplement horrible, j'ai du mal à apprécier la lecture et le livre, ce qui lui donne cette unique étoile. Pour le style de l'écrivain, on repassera également, la forme m'ayant trop agacée pour que je puisse l'analyser objectivement.

brimbooks's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

vickytumati's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.25

sophiesvs's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

kimziemae's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

outbeet's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense 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

1.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

amy_reads_23's review against another edition

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4.0

This is such a difficult book to review because you are left dumbfounded as to what just happened. It is hauntingly horrific. The hard core porn followed by maiming and brutally murdering the women leaves you feeling queezy. (ie. The rat scene) A writer that can evoke a physical reaction in the reader is doing his job well. The chapters of manic normalcy in between the chapters of psychotic breakdowns toy with the reader. I enjoy how it is eluded to that in a sea of well dressed, wealthy, errogant, misogynistic New Yorkers, the devil himself can hide in plane sight. It is debatable whether these murders and acts of violence actually occur because of how openly they are commited with no retribution. It seems as if it is possible that the entire book is a fantasized psychological breakdown. I only gave it 4 stars because of the ending while fitting also fell flat, an afterward would have helped.