Wow. This may have been the most disturbing book I've ever read. This book takes ultra-violence to new levels. But along with all of the gruesome murder is a vivid snapshot of the 1980's Wall Street culture. This was a good book, but definitely not for everyone. If you don't like graphic sex and violence, you should stay away from this one. ( )

Wow. This may have been the most disturbing book I've ever read. This book takes ultra-violence to new levels. But along with all of the gruesome murder is a vivid snapshot of the 1980's Wall Street culture. This was a good book, but definitely not for everyone. If you don't like graphic sex and violence, you should stay away from this one. ( )

God, what can one say about American Psycho? It’s a strange book and not something that’s easy to read even if you do like it (which I think I do). There’s so much ambiguity to it that it’s hard to say exactly what is going on. Is he really killing people or is it just in his mind? If he is a serial killer do those around him not notice or do they cover it up to maintain appearances? And how do people not notice that no matter what else he is, he is really freaking crazy?

One thing that is not in doubt is the fact that this is a gruesome book that is full of sex and violence. But it is also a satire so if you are in the right (or perhaps wrong) frame of mind you may find yourself laughing at the strangest things. Read it the same way you would read Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” and you’ll find that it is far less horrifying. ( )

I think that the two words that need to be focused on in any review of American Psycho are violence and identity.

The book is incredibly violent, but Ellis' reason is very apparent, and very reminiscent of his earlier book Less Than Zero. Patrick Bateman commits these crimes, most of which are very stomach-turning, simply because he has nothing to lose. There is an awful lot of debate as to whether the violence happens in Bateman's head, and I'm not sure that it matters either way. Certainly, to us, it is happening: the bone necklaces and decapitations, the sex and the drugs; all of those things are real to the reader.

The second word, identity, is what the main theme of the book touches on the most. Bateman is constantly confused for other people at his own, and other, firms; the confusion becomes integral to the plot, as well, though touching on that would move into spoiler territory. Bateman's identity as rich man with expensive things, drugged out significant other, violent psychopath, etc. is all that makes him up; he, literally, is only the sum of the parts that make up his apartment and wardrobe. ( )

Made me laugh so hard I had to run out and slaughter a banker.

Truly excellent satire. The rest of his stuff is so so. Was cocaine involved in the writing? ( )