Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

325 reviews

meurk's review against another edition

dark funny 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

imjamesmason's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

3.75

This book is incredibly visceral and well written. You really feel like you’re inside the head of the main character, for better or worse.

It’s the kind of book I am glad I read, wouldn’t unread, but really cannot recommend to many people. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

percivilious's review against another edition

challenging dark tense 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

3.5

This book can be hysterical at times, for example his entire skincare routine, him flexing at a lady doing his facial and thinking that it looks casual bc his eyes are closed, and every music-themed chapter.
And then it'll hit you with a chapter so violent and misogynistic and violating that you wish you never picked it up re: every single chapter titled 'Girls'.
Thank you to my friend who loaned me this book as it is a banned book where I live and cannot be bought, borrowed from a library, or shipped into the state due to its contents (which... I kinda get now.. but also STOP BANNING BOOKS!), thanks, and I hate it.

But it was also really good ?????

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Antisemitism, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Car accident and Abortion

dianavd05's review against another edition

dark funny 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Murder

kingspite618's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

littlebeereads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

I watched the movie ages ago and decided to read the book recently. Gosh I did not realise how much more gory it was than the movie. If you don’t like body horror then this is definitely not for you but I found the whole book fascinating. Going from talking about designer clothing (which happens a lot) to lunches and clubbing to full on mutilation is wild. I HIGHLY suggest you read the epilogue if you do read it as I think it’s really interesting hearing Ellis’ view on his book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder

corporateballerina's review against another edition

challenging dark funny tense slow-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

4.5

I love this book and (believe it or not) have read it a couple times, but its recommendation comes with major caveats.

Absolutely no reader should go in blind. Know that there are many scenes of explicit violence, sex (consensual and non-consensual), and language. It is not an easy book to read. Also know that it’s a dark comedy and a criticism of yuppie culture, capitalism, and toxic masculinity. It requires a deeper look and shouldn’t be taken at face-value. 

If you can get past that, the postmodern satire is impeccable. Serial murders are interspersed with reviews of Phil Collins’s music, with Patrick Bateman serving as the ultimate unreliable narrator. What adds to this effect, in a meta way, are readers’ reactions to it; anyone who treats the novel as a handbook is completely missing the point.

I’ll also note that I listened to this on audiobook, narrated by Pablo Schreiber. I don’t quite know how he managed to get through reading it aloud.

I suppose the final verdict is this: IYKYK, and you have to know.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Classism

ljp223's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

zmillrz's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

And the crowd is…exchanging horrified glances

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Gore, Racial slurs, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, and Rape

sagesagesage's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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

0.5

i wish i could unread this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail