This Is Not An Exit (American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis)

Member Name: 3rd Rock Satan

Product:	American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis
Date:	12/05/01 (155 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Dark & funny

Disadvantages: Too violent for some

Probably one of the most misunderstood books of all time, American Psycho, follows the life of one man, Patrick Bateman, where he lives an upper class lifestyle in America in the 1980s ‘greed is good culture’. Although Patrick has a very successful job, is well educated and seemingly well mannered he hides a sinister secret, he is a cold-blooded psychopath. Patrick Bateman’s life consists of a sort of ‘Jeckell and Hyde’ affair, he can either be charming or deadly and there is no telling when he switches to either one. Sometimes he likes nothing better than to watch The Patty Winters Show but other times making a live rat enter a woman’s vagina interests him more.

There really is only one main character in this novel which is, of course, the aforementioned Patrick Bateman. However there are characters that feature quite prominently in the book as a result of knowing Patrick. There are his group of friends, who act the same and live the same, wanting expensive food, sex and drugs. Luis Carruthers is one of them and this is a person that Patrick murders, for no apparent reason, just for fun it seems. This does spin a sub-plot where Patrick is interviewed a number of times by a detective, yet he doesn’t get caught. One other main character is Jean, his secretary and a woman that loves Patrick. Jean does anything for him, she is unquestioning, a perfect secretary to have. Jean is the only person that Patrick gives a slightest hint that he has feelings for.

The main problems that Patrick has to face are shallow, applying to the ‘greed is good’ culture and that he is unfeeling. He is almost ‘in tears’ when they arrive to a popular restaurant because he may not get seated, it is unbelievable that someone would be worked up about that so much, but he does. Another problem he faces is that he is outdone in terms of business cards, with his friends having better ones than him, again a
shallow and unimportant problem.

The main themes and ideas are that feelings are overruled and it’s what you have that counts. Patrick spends paragraphs and paragraphs describing his new Walkman, or his new business card, this is what counts. His friends notice these things however they do not notice he is a killer. The book, although horrific, reads more like a black comedy, at several occasions Patrick openly admits he likes to kill people and yet nobody takes any notice, even if he shouts it out, it is as if that doesn’t matter. There is a ‘every man for himself’ theme as well. Relationships in the book are at bare minimum, with women mostly being used for sex and nothing else. It’s all about self-pleasure despite all consequences.

The book is a true classic. It has come over heavy criticism some people refer to it as ‘pornography for psychopaths’ but to say that is to miss the point, it is a very witty black comedy that takes the decade of the 80s and presents it in a unrecognisable but believable light. The way Patrick acts about some things are mockingly funny but with the dark edge of him in all sorts of macabre murders it makes you stop and think whether or not someone could act like him.

The book really does hold your interest throughout, yet the high point of the book, or at least the most shocking is the first killing Patrick makes. This sets the trend for things to come and yet, despite being horrific, is fairly tame to the others that follow. Every single murder is described in such detail its unnerving and it is easy to picture in your mind. It won’t make you frightened as such but it will defiantly make you uneasy because of the lurid detail it often goes into.

The ending is inconclusive, keeping with the tone and mood of the novel. After reading the book you can thank yourself you don’t live in a culture like that but its uncertain, after Patrick
was a high-flying businessman, ‘normal’ by all accounts so it can easily be happening around you. The moral is ‘trust no one’.

This book is defiantly not for the squeamish or for those with a closed mind. Reading this book can both be a joy and a journey into your conscience because you feel as if you shouldn’t be enjoying some parts. If you are a person who likes black comedy books then this is for you but don’t take it too seriously.

AMERICAN PSYCHO IS

Violent
Funny
Disturbing

AMERICAN PSYCHO IS NOT

Subtle
For the faint of heart
Evil

Summary: