wtf? (American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis)

Member Name: georgesvinsky

Product:	American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis
Date:	03/11/09 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: very complicated and deep main character. interestingly gruesome scenes.

Disadvantages: kill. sex. drug. kill. sex. drug. And thats all!

Right. Serial Killer. New York City. Tons of victims. Is there anything else to this book?
Well, all the characters are extremely shallow, partially because they are not alive long enough for the reader to gain and insight into what they are like as a person. But even the main characters (they dont die): Evelyn, Jean, Paul Owen excert a very weak sense of personality.
In an almost overwhelming contrast, the main character, Patrick Bateman, a successful buissnessman, Harvard graduate, yuppie, and, of course, serial killer, is so complicated and intricate in the mind, that I doubt even Easton Ellis understands him.
Perhaps this is intentional, and this shows the shallowness of the society where Ellis bases his killer, but the reader may spend hours trying to figure out Mr. Bateman, and come up with very few finds.
The book is essentially filled with graphis scenes of violence, sex and drug abuse. Elsewhere, there is very little. Ellis finds pages and pages of inspiration in describing the Patty Winter's show, or the clothes that Pat Bateman is wearing, and though this may add to the effect of shallowness that he may be trying to create, it is not fun for the reader.
I advise not buying this book unless you are a psychologist, looking for a very difficult case.

Summary: Serial Killer. New York City. Tons of victims. Tons of killing.