Rating: Summary: Whoaaoee! Review: This book is an epic masterpiece which describes how a societys core is rubbed out by fashion and style, and where moral laws and ethics are longlost. Although Ellis uses several pages to describes certain brands of cloths and miscellaneous articals, together with how they are correctly used, the sharp-minded can notice the bizarre undertone in which fashion does matter more than almost anything else (except Patty Winters Show, of course). The main character is outwards an almost perfect individual, and sometimes in the book, the hours of practicing cousine is unavoidably taking form in horrifying acts, such as doing terrible things to your very closest friends. This book contains a very importaint message and is probably one of the best book that i've read.
Rating: Summary: Better than Zagat Review: In short, the whole thing is way too over-the-top to be taken as anything but silly and cute. However, if you're considering a night of fine dining in NYC, this is the book to consult. I haven't even touched my Zagat Guide since I bought this book.
Rating: Summary: like rubbernecking Review: If you've ever driven by a horrible car accident and couldn't help but look, you'll know what reading this book is like. It's shock-value scenes are deployed for mere fascination, nothing else. The man character, Patrick Bateman, is wholly unidentifiable as anything close to a member of the animal kingdom, pathologic or not. Mr. Ellis refuses to give any substance or insight into his character, but instead exploits our perceptions of evil and godlessness to spin a useless tale of depravity. No insight, resolution or explanations, only bewildering implausabilities which make us wonder "why bother?"
Rating: Summary: Amazing and absolutely hilarious Review: I recognize that this book may be difficult for some to swallow, however, it is important to read between the lines and not take these cartoon-like atrocities so seriously. I read this book when it was first released and then again recently and found it to be so extraordinary that it was impossible for me to take seriously. Patrick Bateman is a joke as a human being and all of the banalities of his everyday life are included so that you cannot help but understand why he is going crazy. I think that if you are resolved to read a brilliant satire of the 1980's, than that is what it will be. If you are looking to read a novel with gore galore then you will get that as well. It is all what you make of it. I feel that Bret Easton Ellis should be praised for this largely under appreciated book, as it is a far more eloquent novel about the 80's than any of his other books. No, there is no plot or three act structure, but that is the point. It is brilliant.
Rating: Summary: not worth the time or effort Review: I read this book because of a discussion in a media class about the uproar it caused when it was published. I was extremely disappointed. The violence and sex did not bother me in the least (I'm a Jack Ketchum devotee - I've read worse) but the poor writing style, vapid characters and rambling plot made this a torturous read at best. If you want shock, find a copy of Jack Ketchum's "Ladies Night" from Silver Salamander press - "American Psycho" isn't worth the energy it requires to read it.
Rating: Summary: Not for Everyone Review: "American Psycho" is disgusting, compelling, magnetic at both polls. It is a "hard" read. You will either want to burn it or keep it for life.Ellis has gone into the mind of a man few of us can understand. Bateman has the veneer of an up-and-coming Wall Street wiz, but what he does in his off hours one associates with dark basements, slaughterhouses, things beyond depravity. The details of the surface character are outstanding, if lengthy - which clothing is "correct," the "right" restaurants, the "best" sound equipment. You walk by this Brooks Brothers NYC Yuppie everyday and might think he's vacuous; but he has incredibly horrible secrets about what he does behind the door of his fashionable apartment. The wonder of this is that someone could have thought up Bateman(I believe that Ellis once said writing the book sometimes made him physically ill). Not for the faint of heart or even the slightly queasy. But you will wonder about what actually goes on behind the door of the person who lives next to you. Depraved insanity knows no class or culture.
Rating: Summary: An Addicting Read but what is the Point? Review: I read this book in about 3 days, cover to cover. It was reading that I could not put down. However, despite the enjoyment (sick enjoyment) I had from reading this book, I would be lying if I claimed to understand the point. Again, great reading but I am not sure what the point of it all was.
Rating: Summary: Make the bad man stop... Review: Ellis' novel reminds me of stories of parents who, in the Old Days, would try and "beat the Devil out their child." Hey, you can't argue with a parent trying to get a point across to their kid -- but you can argue with the ridiculous and unnecessary methods they employ. Ellis has a point to make about the so-called vapid materialism of the last part of this century, but is just <incredibly> over the top about it. You endure hundreds of pages of nattering materialism and grotesque violence, for what? To learn that the 80s were "bad" and that people lacked "soul?" Terrific -- I had to wade through that puddle of muck for that incredibly deep little gem? Clever idea, but ham-handed in its execution (no pun intended). The novel lacks the power to make you think deeply about these problems; rather it only alerts you to their already obvious presence (in the loudest and most odious fashion). Some people mistake the ability of a thing to make them REACT for inherent worth. Skip it. Read some Swift instead.
Rating: Summary: Great stuff! Review: I absolutely love this book! So sue me. I admit that I hated it the first time I read it. But I tried it again and saw the comic genius that is Bret Easton Ellis. The constant refferals to clothing, dinner and the Patty Winters show can be annoying, but you must understand that Ellis is taking you into the mind of a shallow, depraved, well, psychopath. There are some absolutely hilarious lines in the story, which got me some horrified stares on the bus one day. The bottom line.....either you get it or you don't. MS
Rating: Summary: I'd write a review Review: but I have to return some video tapes.
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