derivative's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Something I really love about this book rather than the movie is how it is shown that he really is mimicking his surroundings. I find it fascinating to read through the lens of autism. For example, In the movie, he seems a bit out of place and his phrases like "I have to return some videotapes" seem nonsensical. But here we see that this was a totally normal social cue and a script that many of his peers likely use as well. He is simply using a phrase to get him out of a situation. Everyone does it, why is he so strange for it?
And later my macabre joy sours and I'm weeping for myself, unable to find any solace in any of this, crying out, sobbing, "I just want to be loved."
Graphic: Rape, Vomit, Blood, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, and Racial slurs
gorpcrust's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cannibalism, Child death, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Torture, Body horror, Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, Misogyny, Racism, Blood, Alcohol, Hate crime, and Drug use
abbiejad3's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Torture, Sexual violence, Gore, Drug use, Violence, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Hate crime, Gun violence, Murder, Transphobia, Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, and Physical abuse
jayvdw's review
- 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
2.5
First off, the book is very slow, especially in the beginning. It fits the theme and sets the book's tone, but it doesn't read nicely. The book has some big themes and criticisms about 1980s America, which is very interesting and insightful. Patricks focus on clothing, brand, music and materialism really sets a mood whilst reading and depth to the characters. BUT IT'S FUCKING BORING. Personally, I skipped most of these, the long lists, I understand why they are there and that Bret intentionally puts them in the book to be boring and bore the reader.
The book is super super gross and not at all for the faint of heart. The book goes into detail about the murders and sex. It is very unsettling and I sometimes strayed away from reading for a few hours after certain chapters.
My favorite part of the book is clearly a few chapters near the end.
Spoiler
In these chapters we start the get clear indications that Patrick and thus the narration can't be trusted. I loved Chase, Manhatten chapter. The sudden switch from first person to third person in this chapter really showed me how psychotic Patrick is. This combined with the absurdity of the chapter really made me realize that Patrick is untrustworthy and made me question a lot of the things that happened in the book. This was supported by the idea that Patrick often says things about murder or rape, that the people around him just ignore. His trustworthiness is confirmed when his lawyer says to has had lunch with one of Patrick's victims.Overall, I think this book is very interesting and learnful. Even in the modern day a lot of the themes are still present or even worse. The book is however a very boring read or very gross most of the time, due to this I gave it a low rating, simply because I did not enjoy reading it for most of the book, I also feel like the book could have been half the size. The ending was a let down in my opinion and a bit too vague. It would have been better if the ending focussed more on the trustworthiness of Patrick.
Graphic: Drug use, Gore, Violence, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Vomit, Alcohol, Body horror, Infidelity, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Bullying, Cannibalism, Grief, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Child death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
This book is gross and very very explicit with sex, murder, rape and torture. Not only to men and women, but also animals and children.vicplusnone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Animal cruelty, Blood, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Animal death, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Child death, Sexual harassment, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Death, Drug use, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia and Cursing
Minor: Abortion
nikolemrtnz's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Murder, Racial slurs, Rape, Body horror, Classism, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence
maddypat's review against another edition
Spoiler
a defenseless homeless man and his dogGraphic: Violence, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Racism, Rape, Murder, Sexual content, Sexism, Animal death, Body horror, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Gore, Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Misogyny, and Classism
phibs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Although Ellis manages to deftly weave grim comedy throughout, his postmodernist critique remains explicitly crude and vile, leading the reader to question how necessary Ellis’ innumerable graphic depictions of wanton violence against women were to the narrative at large.
Director Mary Harron certainly cherrypicks the best of Ellis’ novel to adapt for cinema, leaving the novel little more than a compendium of desensitised butchery and $300 ceviches.
Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Child death, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Body horror, Drug use, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Sexual violence, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Antisemitism, Blood, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Classism, Violence, Excrement, Gore, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, and Vomit
brennahinshaw's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Excrement, Gore, Rape, Racial slurs, Animal death, Cannibalism, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Sexual assault, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Transphobia, Antisemitism, Ableism, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Pregnancy, Dementia, and Abortion
milenski's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Cannibalism, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Torture, Blood, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual violence, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Antisemitism, Animal cruelty, Excrement, Abortion, Panic attacks/disorders, and Animal death