Title: American Psycho
Author: Bret Easton Ellis
First published March 6, 1991
399 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780679735779 (ISBN10: 0679735771)
Rating: 3.81
Overview
Meet Patrick Bateman, a successful and handsome Wall Street worker who seems to have it all: charm, intelligence, and sophistication. But beneath his perfect facade lies a chilling truth – he is a psychopath.
In American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis takes us on a dark and twisted journey into the heart of America’s greatest dream and its worst nightmare. With biting humor and a bleak outlook, Ellis confronts us with a world we all know, but would rather not acknowledge.
Get ready for a black comedy that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the American dream.
About the Author
Bret Easton Ellis, an American author, is highly regarded as one of the major Generation X writers. He was part of a literary group called the Brat Pack, along with Tama Janowitz and Jay McInerney.
While he calls himself a moralist, he’s often labeled as a nihilist due to his characters, who are typically young and morally bankrupt. Despite knowing their depravity, they choose to indulge in it.
His novels are known for their recurring characters and dystopian settings, usually in Los Angeles or New York.
Editoral Review
American Psycho is a novel that continues to shock and disturb readers more than two decades after its publication. Written by Bret Easton Ellis, and first published in 1991, the novel is a work of modern literature that stays true to the postmodernist genre, featuring themes of nihilism, alienation, and apathy.
American Psycho is a book that tests the limits of readers’ stomachs and their perception of our society. The novel follows Patrick Bateman, an executive in the Wall Street financial sector who appears to have everything, including youth, wealth, and good looks.
But behind the faade of an enviable life, Patrick is a sociopath preoccupied with material possessions, extreme violence, and deviant sexuality. American Psycho is a graphically violent tale set in the heart of New York City’s financial district.
The novel paints a bleak and brutal portrait of the depravity that can fester underneath the surface of high society. Ellis masterfully portrays the 1980s yuppie, and his prose is both hypnotic and repulsive.
His attention to detail is meticulous in describing the designer clothing, accessories, and grooming products that Patrick covets. Ellis’ writing style places his work at the pinnacle of postmodern literature, making this book both fascinating and disturbing.
The novel probes the depths of the readers’ psyche and forces them to confront the darker and more sinister side of human nature.
American Psycho is an important work of fiction that reflects the zeitgeist of its time.
It is a reflection of the capitalist excesses that characterized the 1980s, and still resonate today. Ellis’ satire is sharp and biting, revealing the hollowness that lies at the heart of consumer culture.
The book is also a warning about the danger of unchecked hedonism and how it can erode our humanity. Despite its many strengths, American Psycho is not without flaws.
Some critics have criticized the novel for being too bleak and nihilistic. Others have criticized it for being misogynistic and promoting violence against women.
While these criticisms are valid, they do not detract from the novel’s overall power. In the end, American Psycho is a work that should be read by anyone interested in experiencing the darker and more complex aspects of human nature.
However, it is not for the faint of heart, and readers should be prepared for the graphic and disturbing scenes that are an integral part of the novel. Bret Easton Ellis’ masterful writing style and attention to detail make this book unforgettable, and its sharp satire and commentary on contemporary society make it a must-read.
For these reasons, the book deserves a rating of 4.5 out of 5.
