Rating: 
Summary: Chilly, really chilly
Review: I can't speak highly enough for this work of fiction. It seems to be light years beyond the likes of Stephen King. Two comments should suffice: the reduction of personality to name brand clothing is ingenious. It shows that the ordinary person can well fit the definition of a monster if looked at a certain way. The second comment is the description of violence toward a male friend, a homosexual, a street person and a would be girlfriend does the rounds on how not to make friends and influence people. One more thing: the headaches Patrick experiences will also become your headaches.
Rating: 
Summary: Skip It
Review: It's boring, artificial, has poor dialogue and lacks character development. I felt like I was reading the same chapter for 300 pages, because NOTHING happens except Patrick works out, goes to dinner, rents videos and kills prostitutes. Night after dreary night. He finally shakes things up by stabbing a five-year-old, because only then does Bateman try to explain himself at all. If you truly want a story of the '80s, Manhattan style, choose "Bonfire of the Vanities" by Tom Wolfe.
Rating:
Summary: Thought Process
Review: The long and descriptive details of scenes in the first half of the book are hard to get through. I suggest you read them all very carefully. It wasnt till the 3rd time that I read this book that I realized that those scences are what make the book. During the second half of the book you start to understand why Patrick acts and think like he does. By the end of the book you start to think like Patrick. I found myself in a restaurant having thoughts that Patrick would have. Even if you think this book is too violent you will be amazed how Ellis transforms your thinking patterns. Be careful. Great Book!
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Acceleration
Review: When i first started reading this book the tiresome descriptives were hard to overcome. As the story progressed the violence became more and more violent and the descriptive narratives found their mark. Bateman is an obsessive!! About Money, Looks, his life, everything. The violence, i believe, is a metaphore for release - it doesn't really happen!! It is a figment of Batemans ego. Yes the violence is horrific, but i believe it is warranted to describe a man who has everything except pupose, slowly going out of his mind. I would be interested if the Author had intended the story to come accross like this. Made me laugh, cry and hide!
Rating:
Summary: American "Dream"
Review: I find it very interesting to monitor the controversy that abounds when speaking about this book. What is ashame is that the "ultrviolence" that takes place in this tale overshadows a great piece of American literature. And, what is so obviously missed is the fact that these actions never even took place. They are figments of the imagination of a truly disturbed man. That is most evident when Bateman continually confesses to his actions and desires, and nobody hear him. In actulaity, this book is a phenomenally well written satire that tears open the matrialistic seamy underbelly of 1980's Wall Street and shoves it down the throats of America so that they can choke on it. Sorry about that . . . it seems that I may have read this book one to many times. A real keeper that shoudl be appreciated for what it is and not overlooked for what you wish to make it.
Rating:
Summary: Disturbingly Exceelent
Review: I first heard about this book form my History teacher who kept referring to the graphic eroticism of some of the chapters- what about that rat scene! When I questioned my English tutor about his opinion on the book he turned very pale and walked away- no doubt to retreat to the sanctity of Dickens or Austen- although I quite like them to. This is indeed an excellent book although I did find my mind wandering at the punctillious detail applied to the characters dress sense ! Disturbing yet rich, if you can see into the violence rather than circumnavigate it then you are one step closer to entering into the mind of Bateman, although the prospect of really becoming too familiar with the main character is one which I found particularly worrying. You cant help but be sucked into his consciousness and once your in there is a mix of disapproval and excitement, disgust and intrigue which makes this book so readable.
Rating:
Summary: Viscerally Gripping and Frighteningly Entertaining.
Review: I bought my first copy of American Psycho in 1991, when the book was initially published. My interest was peaked by a college newspaper article which described the book only in minimal detail, but alluded to the fact that it had been banned. Not to be daunted, I set out on a quest to find this book. And find it I did! Suffice to say that the book was the most vile, disgusting, and disturbing book I had ever read in my entire life ... in other words I LOVED IT !!! The first 80 pages were dull and monotonous, sketching out the initial twinges of Bateman's insanity. After those first 80 pages, however, watch out ! I am not an easy person to impress, or upset. Things do not easily gross me out, or disturb me. American Psycho did all these things and more. I kid you not, I actually had to put the book down at one point because the content gave me something akin to sensory overload. It totally shocked the hell out of me ! Something that has NEVER happened in my life. I had to buy a second copy, because my then girlfriend stole mine. Apparently she liked the book as well. As an interesting side note, I gave a copy of this book to a Wall Street buddy of mine ... he in turn showed the book to all of his co-workers ... they in turn went on something of a mass-pilgrimage to obtain their own copies. If you love horror ... you MUST own this book ! Enough said.
Rating:
Summary: Unlike anything else....ever...
Review: It is strange sitting here writing a "review" of a book I read about six years ago. What I do most vividly remeber is the way iy totally gripped me. Not from any genius writing, not from outstanding plot construction, not from vivid imagination.....but simply from the realization that I simply have not read ANYTHING like it in my life. The total lack of feeling, warmth and texture - only the monotone, dry and numbing obsessiveness with details, be it stereos, shaving or gut-wrenching violence. I was totally fascinated - not that I can say that I even liked the book - I just couldn't put it down, couldn't take my eyes off it. I just HAD to look, HAD to read on, much in the same way we slow down and stretch our necks when we drive by the scene of a traffic accident. I felt bad for "enjoying" the book the way I did. I dunno - maybe it catered to something I didn't know I had, something I maybe wish i didn't have? Who knows? And do I really want to know?
Rating:
Summary: Exuberantly morbid!
Review: It was hard to put down! You feel disgusted about the book, also disgusted about yourself for wanting to read it! It reflects our society. We feel sorry for the horrible things that happen to others, but love the graphic details! I give this book a 9 only because of the character's boring dialogue about what he and others wear and their rich lifestyles. I know this sets him up to be a cold person, but it is boring. If I remember correctly he escapes in the end.....I hope there is a sequel!
Rating:
Summary: you'll never forget this one...
Review: Ellis has achieved something with this book that most events let alone books fail to achieve: he created something you (the reader) will never ever forget again. Taking the Generation X theme one step further by mixing senseless violence into the everyday boredom of mainstream music, designer labels and dead-end conversations with status-symbol driven so-called friends he has written a book that changes and remains in the mind-set of a reader forever.
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