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A review by afroheaux
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
This book is an extremely interesting character study, but not for the faint of heart. I kept thinking to myself, “Why did he include this in such detail?” But I think that’s the point. This is how someone with Patrick’s sick and twisted mind actually acts.
The book is self aware in the way that it’s trying to show you that evil is often found in the places where we’ve been told it doesn’t: behind perfectly trimmed haircuts, handsome smiles, and wealthy apartments. We’ve deconstructed this idea a bit more since the time of this book’s publishing due to shows like SVU and Criminal Minds yet these ideas still linger in the places of power where they matter.
This book illustrates why so many of the rich and powerful are so indifferent to human suffering. Their lives are vapid and empty, exchanges and people are interchangeable, and everything is a show. Nothing matters.
I believe Patrick is as prolific as he claims to be. The only reason why he hasn’t gotten caught is because his life is an alibi. Most of his victims are homeless or working class people that he has no connection to. Even his world, his victims are forgotten because none of them truly care about each other.
The book is self aware in the way that it’s trying to show you that evil is often found in the places where we’ve been told it doesn’t: behind perfectly trimmed haircuts, handsome smiles, and wealthy apartments. We’ve deconstructed this idea a bit more since the time of this book’s publishing due to shows like SVU and Criminal Minds yet these ideas still linger in the places of power where they matter.
This book illustrates why so many of the rich and powerful are so indifferent to human suffering. Their lives are vapid and empty, exchanges and people are interchangeable, and everything is a show. Nothing matters.
I believe Patrick is as prolific as he claims to be. The only reason why he hasn’t gotten caught is because his life is an alibi. Most of his victims are homeless or working class people that he has no connection to. Even his world, his victims are forgotten because none of them truly care about each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism