Sick, but couldn't put down! (American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis)

Member Name: TigerTiger

Product:	American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis
Date:	12/07/00 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: strangely compulsive reading, good character insight

Disadvantages: very gory stuff, brand name overload

I have never been in a situation where in hated a book so much that I couldn't put it down, however bizarre that may sound! I enjoy reading forensic/ crime thrillers, but the gore and mutilation that this book contained were far too much for me. Having said that though I still couldn't put this book down, I guess that I wanted to see retribution for the pain and horror that this man inflicted.

This book as most will know with the release of the film, is about a NY yuppie that just happens to be a psychopath. He has a top job in the city, a loving girlfriend Evelyn and a good social life, seemingly everything. Yet he gets his pleasure from torturing people, women usually, although anyone that may offend his good taste, such as the homeless, prostitutes and those with bad dress sense are often prime targets!!

I found this quite a diffiult book to get into in that it was unlike anything I had previously read.The first chapters introduce you to the character and what I found hard to get over was how important brands and all the best names are to him. As he continues through his daily life he describes the make and brand of everything he ever sees. This was quite difficult initially as I felt that it left the book a bit disjointed, however,I got used to it and maybe even thought it was "normal" by the end of the novel!! In fact I think half the book was full of names, an excellent opportunity for product placement.

When you start to see the true horror of his character it really did turn my stomach it has to be said. The detail that this book goes into is not for the faint hearted, indeed many times I was tempted to skip to the next section. I actually became quite concerned for the writer and his mental state, as one has to wonder what kind of person can write of such appauling crimes.

I would recommend this book, but only to those with a strong disposition and liking for gore! It is one of those books that I am
glad to have read, but will not be reading again.

Summary: