Rating: Summary: You will love this book or hate it - I hated it. Review: I don't get it. I read this book just after I had read "Less than Zero" a book that I really enjoyed. To me it a boring book about the life of a Yuppie with a few with mutilation / porno scenes placed in there to get a reaction from the censors. I was not offended by this book just bored.
Rating: Summary: Awesome Review: I'm a man of few words: This is an awesome book
Rating: Summary: Describe in three words: Waste of Space Review: I found this book to be boring, distasteful and ultimately tedious. The main character, Bateman, is extremely underdeveloped and his desire to maim to murder is never really explained. That is other than to say that like everyone, the main character wishes to be loved and desires attention [how boring and cliché]. There is too much time [a waste if you ask me] spent on describing his clothing and everyone else's clothing throughout the novel. I honestly, as an average reader, have never heard of nor care about the designers mentioned. The uninteresting description of everyone's attire leaves me irritated and because I do not really know who [and again care] who the designers are, the extremely long descriptions add nothing to Bateman's shallow character. It could have been said in three words: He had money. The writer's style is erratic and at one point in my copy, simply cut off midsentence, mid thought never to be returned to. There are several descriptions of bands in the book that take up several pages, most of which I simply skimmed or skipped. Again, the explicit detail of every song and album of these artists does not seem to contribute anything to the main character. Needless to say, the book was very shabby as a read and although I haven't seen the movie, I would recommend the movie before the book [and I've heard the movie was really bad too]. I see no overall point to the book other than to satirize 80's lifestyle and make the explicit point that no one was really paying attention to him even though Bateman blatantly says on several occasions that he is a mass murderer. I know that after several hundred pages that I didn't really care. KEEP AWAY!
Rating: Summary: Revulsion par excellance Review: I'll make this review short. I could go on interminably but that would waste your time as this book did to mine. This is by far the most revolting piece of trash I've ever read. The point is easily taken about how people were so caught up with themselves in the 80's. How fashion was more important than basic essence. How nobody really listens to anybody. How the rich or rich wannabees really thought of others and themselves. Nevertheless, this horror of a book is both poorly written and sadistic in thought and deed that one can only wonder what makes this author's head tick! The brutality goes beyond anything in such a raw sadistic manner that one not only gets the point but is hammered like and anvil to let it sink in. I don't believe readers need this much to appreciate the author's points. Some friends wanted to read the book when I was finished. I told them much of the above and more. It was a delight to proudly toss the book into the trash so that it might go to its proper home.
Rating: Summary: The twisted creation of a no-talent hack. Review: This "book" was recommended to me by an apparently misguided friend. Through the first several pages, it held my interest, as the reader gets shadows of the evil behind the main character; it's a little bit suspenseful. However, after about 100 pages, I was bored out of my mind. It is monotonous to an amazing degree, and it is obvious that Ellis could not find a good way to express himself. The main character darts back and forth between night clubs, his apartment, and Wall Street, meeting seedy friends the whole time, and checking out women. It goes on and on for pages until the main character actually starts torturing people. If this book is a critique of the pursuit of money and 80's night life, then why the torture scenes? The author is trying to appeal to those of us who enjoy reading that sort of thing. Overall, the book is a lousy way of conveying an interesting message. I don't care if you are as rich as Patrick Bateman, AVOID THIS BOOK!
Rating: Summary: The perfect blend of horror, culture and sex... Review: It's July 29, 2000. I was in the book store and I picked up this book. I wasn't sure how good it was going to be, seeing as how bad the movie did. Boy was I suprised.The book starts off very slow, building the yuppie life and everyone involved. Gradually over time, Patrick Bateman starts to become insane. He starts killing prostitues, the elderly, homeless and even his co-workers. There is also a lot of stereotypes that you have to look past if your really touchy on the race subject. The sex isn't pornography. While the author, Bret Easton Ellis, gets into extreme detail, most of the women end up being killed in the most detailed, disgusting way you will find in any good book. I stress any good book because there are a lot of stupid horrors with meaningless violence. The only downside to the overall view is that their is no set plot. You can love, get annoyed and even want to put down the book at times, but I doubt you wouldn't like this wonderful piece of literature.
Rating: Summary: Most awful book I've ever read Review: If you want a book with no plot, unlikable, one-dimensional characters and positively disgusting, sick and grisly murder sequences then this is for you. The horrifyingly violent scenes turned my stomach. Anyone who is capable of thinking up muck like this must be mentally ill and in need of help. Probably the worst book I've ever read. It doesn't reflect black humor and isn't satirical, it is just plain BAD!
Rating: Summary: People are strange... Review: One word about the book itself first: The Eighties wouldn't be complete without it. About some of the reviews: It's really strange that people are calling it a satire. Completely wrong! There is absolutely no "black humor" in there, no humor at all, to be precise. It's the cold and uncut description of the thoughts of a madman, the fact that his actions and thoughts sometimes seem funny only reflect the banality of evil which has rarely been described better. And for those who complain about the repetition of the description of brand names: this is the very message of the book! What counts is that your tie fits with the suit and the shoes, nobody notices that you're dragging a dead body through the hall! It simply is of no importance!
Rating: Summary: An excellent book with a few flaws Review: American Pyscho, is the story of a "yuppy", Patrick Batemen, living a life of material goods and superficial people. Due in large part to his own shallowness Patrick goes on a killing spree. Bret Easton Ellis goes on to not only talk about a serial killer but also makes a satire on the extremely materialistic ways of the 80's. American Pyscho is a very funny and interesting novel, Ellis does a wonderful job using his wit and going through Patrick's own hell, but this novel is not for everybody. It is an extremely violent and graphic novel that is definetely not for the squeamish. At times this book was just simply not enjoyable because of the great lengths that Mr. Ellis goes through to explain the killings and sometimes goes on a bit too long to describe the people and the fashion. On the other hand, Mr. Ellis is only trying to stay true to the nature of the characters, and while this may be unenjoyable at times it is only signs of a talented writer. If you can get past the rather disturbing violence and the long passages of fashion and music, and see it for what it is, than American Pyscho will be a great book for you. American Pyscho is a humorous novel that I believe will stand the test of time as being one of the best satires about the 80's.
Rating: Summary: rambling details Review: Maybe the symbolism of this book is totally lost on me. Ellis takes up way too much book space describing in irritating detail what each person is wearing. Ok, the bums don't get a fashion summary but all the other well to do characters (whether we are given their names of not) has their wardrobe described in detail. I think we get the point right from the beginning that these people are wealthy yuppies. I have just begun to read the book and find myself skipping over sections where Ellis describes people and their outfits. Don't waste your money, people. I haven't seen the movie but if you feel you must find out about all the hype that went with this book and movie, do yourself a favor and go see the film. Save yourself the irritation of this man's ramblings.
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