Does it get better?

[Brittany]

The countless pages of descriptions on clothing, food, electronics and music are to show the obsessive nature of Patrick Bateman. He is a serial killer so it's only natural that he obsesses over the most inane things. You do learn a lot about the popular consumer products in the 1980s. The descriptions of consumer projects shrink as the murder descriptions become more gory in description. Ellis is a sick genius with an incredible talent.

[Mariam]

Viktoriya wrote: "I am on pg 60 of this book. Am I reading a fashion magazine? So far, it's nothing but designer labels :( So and so wears suit by so-and-so, a tie by so-and-so, a shirt by so-and-so. Yuck!!! Is it ..."

That's basically all part of Ellis' plan. It's supposed to be detailed and monotone and will only make sense as you get into the core of the book, you'll see what I mean when you reach that point when you become very familiar with Patrick Bateman

[Derrick]

Besides social commentary, I found the long catalogues to serve another purpose:

They're boring, and I think that's by design. They anesthetize us to what we're reading on the page. And as the killings and abuse start, we are shocked. But over time, even though the violence becomes ever more demented, we find ourselves feeling less disturbed. We feel disconnected from Bateman's world, just as he does. Whether he's listing a restaurant's menu and decor or his colleague's wardrobes or his violent sexual exploits, it's all the same to him. And, eventually, to us.

Admittedly, it's been a year or so since I read it. But I recall the only truly passionate moments from Bateman are the music reviews.

[Mariam]

"They're boring, and I think that's by design. They anesthetize us to what we're reading on the page. And as the killings and abuse start, we are shocked. But over time, even though the violence becomes ever more demented, we find ourselves feeling less disturbed. We feel disconnected from Bateman's world, just as he does. "

Well said

[Ben]

I found this book wasn't as good as the hype surrounding it. The endless listing of labels I found boring and reminded me of Robinson Crusoe.

It's interesting to mix the banal socialising with brutal murders as the main character becomes increasingly detached from life.

I still found the book a bit of slog to get through.

This book sums the author up to me, not quite as good as you were expecting

[Nina]

American Psycho is a really polarizing book, as can be seen by the guy who said that anyone who claims to like the book has never read it. There are some movies/books/bands that have that effect on people; those who don't like it seem to want to lash out at those who do.
It seems to be the kind of book where you either get it or you don't and there's no shame in not liking it. Personally, I love the book (and movie) and I did actually read it (more than once). I think that both the film and novel are hilarious, but it's a type of writing and humor that some people aren't going to enjoy.
Will it get better? I don't know. I loved it from page one. If you're not liking it and you don't mind quitting a book in the middle, put it down. Life is too short to waste on books you're not enjoying.

[[deleted user]]

Ben wrote: "I found this book wasn't as good as the hype surrounding it. The endless listing of labels I found boring and reminded me of Robinson Crusoe.

It's interesting to mix the banal socialising with ..."

Have you read any other Ellis? If so, which one?

[Ben]

I have also read Less Than Zero, which was ok but not good enough for me to recommend to anyone.

[[deleted user]]

Ben wrote: "I have also read Less Than Zero, which was ok but not good enough for me to recommend to anyone."

Well at least you tried!

[Crystiannia]

macgregor wrote: "...Perhaps the big deal isn't what happens but what is being said. "

Perfectly put.

[zack]

Saturday's wrote: "Does it get better? In one word no. To make matters worse the copy I read was badly edited so several chapters just stopped mid sentence at the bottom of a page. There was just so much hype over..."

Have you ever read an Ellis novel?

[Vincent]

Here is one situation where the book was better than the movie. As a movie lover I always credit the directors work but I also see with my eye and the changes I would have made!

[Ryan]

I read the novel, and didn't really like it. Once there was action, it was enjoyable. I think all the descriptions of pop culture, fashion, etc are there to describe the world in which Bateman lived in....simple, I guess. There were many times where I wanted to put the book down...

[Jamie]

I would read the whole book before deciding if it was any good or not. The writer sure knows what he's doing, so if you don't like it...it's not because he's bad. It's because you don't like it.

[Emma]

He'd be a terrible psychotic-rich-OCD-vain-mass-murderer if he didn't list everything... go with it, you'll feel you know him better for understanding how he thinks.

[J]

I hated this book, so trivial, so vulgar, nothing of substance. And this makes me further believe that there's a plot to destroy the uplifting potential of literature, enshrining the worst and ignoring the quality novels, stories.

[Will]

Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

[Lisa]

This book is about the emptiness, alienation, emotional detachment, and the very insanity of post modern-existence in industrialized society. These qualities in an individual align themselves with the diagnosis of psychosis. In sociological terms, it makes for a psychopathic Society. I agree it is somewhat tedious to read the descriptions of the designer labels and critiques of the trendy restaurants, etcetera, but it is a literary device used to illustrate the spiritual plight of society. Patrick and all his friends are spiritually adrift. The essence of their humanity is corrupt. Patrick prizes his $60 boxer shorts yet enjoys taunting homeless people with the sight of a $1 bill. His obsession with expensive brands , trendy restaurants, cosmetic perfection shows society as a whole is losing touch with relevant meaning and its own Humanity. If that point eludes you, it seems this book is not for you. American Psycho can be compared with great novels which focus on the themes of societal alienation such as Notes from Underground by Dosteo e v sky, The Metamorphosis by Kafka and The Stranger by Camus.

[Lisa]

Will wrote: "Why would I be justifying his actions because his life is boring? That would be absurd. I'm actually of the opinion that the violence is all in his head, but that doesn't really matter. It's about ..."

I'm so glad somebody gets the point!