A review by cxmeron
American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
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
3.75
Some people find the 5 page, 10 page even, rants Patrick goes on to be a downfall of this book or makes it boring and tedious. However, as a neurodivergent person, the way he forms his thoughts and the correlation between each topic (not to mention his hyperfixation of expensive clothing brands) I find very similar to how I also form thoughts which personally made it very easy to read though. Not to mention how funny some of these part of the book are.
If you want a book that is the definition of having an unreliable narrator, this is the book - I'm pretty sure even Patrick doesn't know what's happening most of the time. Although this may come across confusing and messy, Ellis writes in such a way that this mess and inconsistencies draw you in. All the characters are flawed and basically no growth happen to them because they are just pawns to Bateman, nothing more than insects, which comes across perfectly. To the point where when supporting characters do get growth it paints the illusion that Patrick is changing, growing, but there truely is no hope for this man.
Finally, as a person who reads a lot of gore-filled and violent books, the violent scenes are truely some of the most disturbing I've ever read. Bateman's intense descriptions of these acts have the same attention to detail as if he was talking about his designer brands which makes apparent how much joy he takes in these tendencies.
If you want a book that is the definition of having an unreliable narrator, this is the book - I'm pretty sure even Patrick doesn't know what's happening most of the time. Although this may come across confusing and messy, Ellis writes in such a way that this mess and inconsistencies draw you in. All the characters are flawed and basically no growth happen to them because they are just pawns to Bateman, nothing more than insects, which comes across perfectly. To the point where when supporting characters do get growth it paints the illusion that Patrick is changing, growing, but there truely is no hope for this man.
Finally, as a person who reads a lot of gore-filled and violent books, the violent scenes are truely some of the most disturbing I've ever read. Bateman's intense descriptions of these acts have the same attention to detail as if he was talking about his designer brands which makes apparent how much joy he takes in these tendencies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Animal cruelty, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Torture