american psycho by brett easton ellis

wanted this for ages, finally found it for ??1.99 at some bargain bookstore. haven't got through much of it, but it's very plain bateman has serious issues...i feel like the author baits you from the start, letting you in on his psyche through subtle hints.

like his constant namedropping of brands. his weird little maintainance rituals. his approach to friends and his girlfriend. well unfortunately my friend showed me a scene from the film and i'm in limbo as to whether i should carry on reading the whole thing or watch it, lol

anyone read it? what did you think?

Posted by Nemesis
oh and of course batemans obilgatory line: "i need to return some videotapes"

hahaha he really is a piece of work.

Posted by Nemesis
if i remember correctly the book starts with:

"abandon all hope ye who enter here" -

which is a quote lent from dante alighier??s "Divine Comedy" which in itself is a whole new topic

but a rather fitting line....hell, inferno, the seven deadly sins.....

"this is not an exit" is a quote from the book which will make you think a bit as to whether or patrick bateman is only imagining it all or not.

click to expand

seeing those quotes together is now making me second guess what is 'reality' and what is bateman's warped imagination. he seems to have a few drug induced hallucinations? like the sweats, his mad running, things he says to people when he thinks they aren't listening to him...then again, those yuppies are so far up their own arses it's possible they don't hear him.

bateman randomly attacks people in the street...in broad daylight sometimes...and no-one ever catches sight of him? or questions the bloodstains on his clothes...hmm.

christian bale isn't half bad 🙂

but that scene...i'm leaning more towards thinking these murders are bateman's delusions. for a serial killer, he doesn't have a victim 'profile'. no particular gender or ethnicity, or age...that's odd.

i'll have to see, i'm about two thirds through.

i have read it. hmmm. what can i say. after finishing the book i decided it is black comedy. satire. the book portrays how shallow society is (brands, clubs, CEOS with stacks of money they can buy anything and anyone) and that nobody takes real interest in each other.

the book is def. more graphic and disturbing than the movie. i??d say if you read the book, you know what the movie is not showing and hinting at.

that really jumped out at me. it is horrifically funny. sort of blase and full of social quirks. the theme of 'nobody taking real interest in each other'...that is heavily emphasised. it takes a very critical view of contemporary society, although never in an overbearing way.

thanks nem! 🙂

Posted by Nemesis
def. his drug consumation is alarming - so of course he would be dealing with the side effects - hallucinations etc.

i felt a bit bad laughing at some points in the book....😄 but it was sooooo out there and far fetched.

don't feel like spoiling the read for you, but when you are finished we can do a review and exchange a few thoughts watcha say?

but i must tell you this: in another book of Eston Ellis "Glamourama" Bateman has a guest appearance 🙂

i'd love to 🙂

oh, i know. it's that kind of humour where it feels like you're a dick for laughing but you have to ease the tension somehow!

ah no way...i might have to check that out now, lol