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Summary: A Psycho Who Has It All
Review: Ah, the disillusionment of the 80's. Easton Ellis creates a character devoid of any emotion, feeling and in so doing creates one of the most wholly evil beings of all time. What is worse than a murdering psycho? A murdering psycho whose got it all: money, women, drugs, friends(all as disillusioned as he), physique, fashion sense, music sense. I have never read a book quite so gruesome - you have been forewarned. Nor have I read a book that goes so deep into the mind of a psycho, only to reveal that those depths are really quite shallow. The chapter tangents - about fashion, about music, about movies - all in excrutiating detail are not pointless. On the contrary, they are some of the most telling parts of the book. Just reading them makes me a bit crazy. Imagine being inside that mind, every minute detail of music, food, style, cinema, etc. catalogued in your brain and itching to be released, but instead trapped in your head lest you make a fashion faux paus or a social slip of the tongue. Then, it is a bit more clear how one can be a facade, an example of perfection on the outside but, an american psycho on the inside. I have little doubt that Hollywood will screw this one up like all the rest. Is it that books just don't translate well to the big screen, or are those people running the show really as incompetent as they seem? Perhaps both? Anyways, read this book - if you can stomach it.
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Summary: Perfect preface to the upcoming film
Review: the film comes out on april 14th, but you should first read the book. It is violent, yes, but it is also a hilarious 80s satire.please read it before you jump to a judgement on the book/film.
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Summary: Misogynist?
Review: Gloria Steinem says that Bret Easton-Ellis should feel responsible for every woman that is abused/murdered as a result of this book. Aside from the clear endorsement of censorship which this implies, Gloria's entirely missing the point. I am a chick and a feminist and I love this book. Because guess what, this guy is a Bad Guy! He kills little children and homosexuals and small animals and makes homeless people cry and loathes Blacks and Arabs and Asians and is also a Young Republican. He's horrible to everyone! And everyone in the world of American Psycho is horrible and whorish and narcissistic and elitist, women included. Modern Western feminists need to start appreciating things like oh say art and literature...or at least start actually reading the books they plan to condemn.
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Summary: Vanity Press or Vintage Press?
Review: I am amazed that anyone other than the author,would spend the money to publish this book. The violence is not what is offensive, it is the utter lack of plot, and the silly use of meticulous detail in describing (plugging?) fashions worn by the characters. Delete the fashion references, restaurant reviews, and the completely unrelated whole chapters of music reviews and you have about 60 pages of novel, none of which lead to a climax or any resemblance of a story line. If this was an attempt to emulate Stephen King, it failed badly.
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Summary: A Satiric Inspiration in the Form of Mutilation
Review: First of all, there is no way everyone in this world can appreciate this book, let alone like it. My girlfriend read it and enjoyed it, while my mother threw it at my head in anger when she approached the first horrible killing. It seemed to have had an impact on them both. As for me, this book is #3 on my all time list, following "A Childhood's End" and "The Talisman." I enjoyed it on so many levels, and that is why it is one of the most known, and most despised works, in circulation today (however limited it is). It is a funny book. I laughed much harder at Bateman's views of his friends than I ever did at an SNL skit. It is a satiric book. Bateman spends so much money of food, that the audience already knows that this is the 80's. His carefree greed is one that is all too common. It is a horrible book. Bateman does certain things to living human bodies that would make Jack the Ripper look like Mr. Rogers. It brings us first hand into the mind of a psycho, without trying to explain his reasoning. The narration in first person helps give us clarity, rather than cloud his mind. And last, it is a beautiful book. If you can stomach slasher films and autopsies, then this book is well worth reading. Once you pick it up, there's no end to it. I promise you that. Just don't read it while sitting on he toilet.
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Summary: My view
Review: First of all I'd like to say I'm a very open minded unbiased reader( I know some people will give this review a bad rank because they don't respect other people's views) and a big fan of Bret Easton Ellis. Second I'd like to say if you have a weak stomach this book isn't for you. Expect graphic scenes of murder and sex throughout the whole book. Ok so now that I got that clear. This is the most interstening and disturbing book I have ever read. I read it last year not really knowing what I was getting into. I was stunned and speechless. I didn't know weather to like it or hate it. People who defend this book say its a real describitve of a mad man and reflects society while People who hate the book say its just a shockfest with no depth. How I read this book was in a sort of Metaphorical way repersenting a twisted version of the "American Dream". Indeed Patrick Bateman could not do this all and get away with it in real life thus my theory. Some people have said Bateman's friends are empty & false and thats not true. I know plenty of shollow people who only care about money. The men mentality of this book was very well done. What I find more sickening in the book then the killings is Patrick Bateman's mind set of life. His rich and doesn't care and why should he? His got it all and can kill for kicks. This book goes further into the dark side of humanity then one can imagine. The book really makes you think(Thats if you have an open mind) and its great to discuss with people. Theres only two comments I have againsit the book and thats Its too contemporary. In a decade or two no one will know half the names in the book and it won't be as enjoyable. My second comment is that it could've easily been shorten. I loved reading the reviews on Amazon both negative and positive. I guess I can't say much more that just stay open. Bret Easton Ellis just gives you the surface and lets you go deeper. I got that it was a metahpore for the "American Dream" in a twisted dark fantasy world but you may get something else. In that sense its worth reading because if anything it'll keep your attention and start disscusions with people who have read it. They should make a message board for this book. Anyways I've said enough be your own judge and read it, It won't be your average new york times best seller feel good book while you sip on your starbucks.
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Summary: American Psycho
Review: Am I the only one who found this book funny? It describes the trendy world of the greedy, consumer oriented '80s, where everyone knew exactly what you were wearing, but never quite knew your name. Where the restaurant of the moment was where one had to dine on designer food, and be seen in the most expensive designer fashions. When nothing was enough and nothing satisfied, sometimes sadistic torture and horrific murder was the only way young, rich and successful Patrick Bateman could pacify his inner demons. It's up to the reader to decide whether Patrick is fantasizing the killings, or really committing them. One has to wonder who is cleaning the apartment after one of his rampages, if they are real. It's not a pretty read, but the rampant materialism of its shallow characters is a hoot. Although the constant litany of brand names and designer labels gets old pretty fast. The scene in the restaurant du jour where Patrick and his friends(? ) try to one-up each other with the most expensive business cards is a gem. Read it, but don't take it too seriously.
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Summary: Fantastic Book
Review: I picked this book after i read an article on Ellis in Rolling Stone. It peaked my interest, and I have to say I honestly had no idea what I was in for. It was the first book that I ever thought about giving up on merely because of its content, I am sure glad I didnt. Make no mistake, if you dont handle gore very well dont even bother, but if you can appreciate a well written intelligent book, buy it. Patrick Bateman is one of the most interesting characters I have come across. He's shallow, materialistic, as vain as they come, and at the same time he can be quite humorous. This is the first book I have actually felt guilty for enjoying, but I did.
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Summary: An Unbiased Review
Review: While others may have read American Psycho for its notoriety in the literary world, I have to admit that all of the press this book was getting was unbeknownst to me. A friend had simply urged me to read the book, only giving me the skimpiest plot details. After having finished the book, I decided that the movie about to be adapted from this novel will, in this rare exception, undobtedly outshine what is a stiff and deeply impersonal account of a serial killer run amok in Manhattan. There were definitely some satirical elements that were worthy enough, but more often than not, American Psycho falls flat. Patrick Bateman sees his world populated with people in designer outfits and suits (and the label dropping can get tiresome and annoying quickly). Aside from this, no other character traits are explored. In essence, we are introduced to mannequins, Bateman being one of them. I can understand the author's approach but it fails to gel because, ultimately, Patrick Bateman doesn't let us really dive into his world, so much as he shows us the surface, the bloody corpses and palpable torture. With materialism explored as a theme, the "surface" may have been just what Ellis wanted us to see. But subtract the shock value, and you notice - the sense of the reader's intelligence being insulted notwithstanding - the lack of plot and characterization. But if one has enjoyed the book simply for its graphic nature, then Ellis has implicated you along with Bateman.
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Summary: Gruesome, Horrific, Terrifying
Review: A disturbing piece a work. It eats at your heart, you are wondering how a man can be so cold, yet it is clever. I do not understand how you can all give it 1 star just cos you is all a bunch of pricks that don't know nothing about literacy and a good storyline.
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