A review by sidekicksam
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

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

5.0

Is evil something you are? Or is evil something you do?

I won't be giving a summary of the premise - we all know the story. I don't think I've ever written such an extensive brain dump before, but then again, American Psycho will evoke strong feelings. If you're planning on reading this, don't read on and just go ahead and read it. But beware of the trigger warnings because the violence and gore is everything you heard about and worse. Also: if you do read this in its entirety: thank you and I'm sorry for all the rambling.

Some random thoughts that have floated in and out of my mind when I just finished it:
- Is this how men feel when they read unhinged women books?
- I don't think I've ever had such physical reactions to reading passages in a book, ever.
- Is this the most fucked up thing I've ever read?
(And I read the book with the underage gangbang and the ones about humans being bred and slaughtered for consumption

- Is this one of the best things I've ever read? Is it?

After sleeping on it, and letting it simmer for a bit (
like Bateman did with the various women he ate
), I've come to the conclusion that it must be one of the best written books I've read in a while. It was slow and torturous, not just because of the heinous acts Bateman commits and their increasing frequency and intensity, but also just Bateman's personality and world we get to go into. 

Pat Bateman is a white, rich, and handsome man, but those who have it all and never have to worry a day in their life also bear a great deal of boredom and emptiness. We see it in the characters other than the protagonist of The Secret History, as well as the main character of My Year of Rest and Relaxation. For some reason, these people don't seem to be equipped to deal with the mundanity of the world. Of life.
 
Who would? If you don't cook a day in your life because going out to a different restaurant every night is something everyone in your social circle does, and if you can get cocaine as easily as a pack of gum in the supermarket, what else is special anymore? What do you have to make you feel something? Bear in mind that dysfunctional families that value appearances and out-shining each other over actual loving and caring relationships are the norm in the upper class, and it's no wonder our protagonist doesn't feel anything. 

The ego-centric mindset of the characters in this book is so well written, I don’t think I’ve rolled my eyes even once. Despite having followed them on several nights out, dates and dinners, I have no real sense of who the characters besides Bateman actually were or did. I don’t think he did either. But then again, they also mistake each other for other people all the time too, and they all don't care about being mistaken for someone else either.
I even wondered at times whether Bateman actually makes those confessions of being a murderer and torturer of women to his “friends”, or whether he imagines himself confessing it to them. The further I got into the book it became apparent that he did actually try to cross the boundaries of secrecy and recklessness, to the point where he is almost caught. The cop-chase scene is so intense he even dissociates for a bit which makes it even more intense.


The consumer state-of-mind, with the (imagined?) competition for who has the best clothing, taste in women/restaurants/drugs, uses the proper skin care products and who takes care of their body best, is central to the book, and is what makes it such a relatable work of satire. I (obviously) can’t relate to Bateman’s homicidal tendencies, but I can sure understand why he’d be obsessed with having the fanciest business card or the newest of the new stuff. 

And to just state the most insanely amazing thing about this book: I don’t think I’ve ever had any other feelings for a serial killer than pure loathing, but he’s so well written: you get what drives him to do it? He’s an absolute repugnant, foul, disgusting human being, but if you don’t have to worry a day in your life about money, retaining your job, or even getting caught, it's little wonder this is what money and power drives you to.
I mean, isn't his behavior and lack of human emotion reminiscent of what Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, etc. etc. have done? No, they didn't murder, but they used people the same way Bateman did. If you want to compare him to serial killers, Jeffrey Dahmer comes closest, be it not for the fact that he wasn't a rich snob that got away with it all. Who knows who's out there being an ACTUAL Pat Bateman.
 

It would have made him a better person if he decided to get a thrill or some feeling by helping in war zones or doing another extreme sport every day, but it wouldn’t have made him such a compelling character. (I hereby promise that if I ever get that filthy rich, I'll just buy libraries and drown myself in books rather than go down the Bateman road)

And yet. There is also still a hint of doubt that it might all have just been an elaborate fantasy. There are some clues as to the guy who doesn’t believe he killed Paul because he had dinner with him the week before, the apartment that was suddenly cleaned out of all the bodies. But then again, there is that taxi driver who recognizes him from the posters... And the fact that the rich can also just use their money and influence to make things (disappearances, murders and other atrocities to people who no one cares about anyway (i.e. sex workers)) disappear (again: Epstein, Weinstein, Trump, etc. etc.). So many layers, theories, and mystery that still surrounds the guy after 400 pages. Brilliant.
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