Goodreads members voted american psycho into the following lists. Bret easton ellis still stuck with american psycho after 25 years. The novelists function is to keep a running tag on the progress of culture. How bret easton ellis came up with american psycho. While mary harrons christian balestarring adaptation of american psycho has become a cult favorite, author bret easton ellis has never been a fan of her movie. Ellis explained that the book was really about the dandification of the american male.
Bateman has also briefly appeared in other ellis novels and their film and theater adaptations. I found the style and language to be what made the book so fascinating to read. The sign seen at the end of the book simply reads this is not an exit. The man who has sold more than 30 million records, spawning such 80s classics as the heart of rock and roll, i want a new drug, the oscarnominated the power of love and the song hes fretting about now, a narrative lynchpin in both the book and film of brett.
That was its point, argues irvine welsh it is a brilliant depiction of the savage society weve created. A colleague told me that after she finished reading american psycho she ripped the book up. It is the story about the archetypal 80s businessman. Recently, rumors have circulated about a possible tv sequel to american psycho, set in the present day. American psycho is a novel by bret easton ellis first published in 1991. Still i really enjoyed this book and the characters the reader was great too. American psycho oral history, 20 years after its divisive. Moreover, the first person narrative really heightens his bouts of crazy and uncontrollable behavior.
In adapting bret easton elliss turgid, gory 1991 novel to the screen, the director mary harron has boiled a bloated stew of brand names and butchery into a lean and mean horror comedy classic. As a literary offering, american psycho found few defendersmost notably norman mailer, a man who had made a fine career courting controversybut roger rosenblatt of the new york times spoke for most critics when he called the book the most loathsome offering of the season. How bret easton ellis came up with american psycho larry. Patrick bateman seems to live off sex and drugs as much as he lives off expensive food, alcohol, and clothing.
Bret easton ellis says american psycho wouldnt have been. Have you ever waited for your favorite book to be turned into a movie. In the cult horror film american psycho directed by mary harron, and originally a novel written by bret easton ellis, we can see a post modern rendering of a classic slasher horror film. Sep 19, 2016 i cant speak for everyone, of course, but i enjoy it for few reasons. One of my favorite lines of the book is, all it comes down to is this. The story is told in the first person by patrick bateman, a serial killer and manhattan investment banker. American psycho was elliss third novel, which introduced the world to investment banker turned serial killer patrick bateman. The fictional character in the awesome wall street murder movie american psycho namedropped a lot of restaurants, many of which actually existed in the 1980searly 90s, the wall street hey day. American psycho by bret easton ellis books the guardian. However, as patrick bateman, the narrator of american psycho. American psycho is not only a book but an experience, the experience. American psycho, film version of the book by brett easton ellis, starring christian bale. The story is told in the first person by patrick bateman, a serial killer and manhattan businessman. In many ways the text of american psycho is one mans ultimate series of selfies.
The bible is your favorite book, and no amount of santa claus giving out swords to children to slay infidels is. It will no doubt deservingly be remembered as bret easton elliss masterpiece, his tourdeforce of sadist misanthropy. As a psychopath, what is your favorite movie, series or genre type to watch. Do yourself a huge mind blowing favor and read it, you wont regret it. American psycho begins with a quote from dantes inferno. In the book, it states his favorite band is the talking heads. Oct 04, 2012 reading american psycho can be disturbing at times, but the casualness with which ellis presents the graphic scenes is as horrifying as it is genius. American psycho oral history, 20 years after its divisive debut. Whenever someone asks me whats my favorite book, i immediately say american psycho. Dec 09, 2016 bret easton ellis says the book that would become american psycho didnt start as a novel about a serial killer, and shares the reallife experience of his that proved the turning point.
Reading american psycho can be disturbing at times, but the casualness with which ellis presents the graphic scenes is as horrifying as it is genius. Irvine welsh american psycho is a modern classic books the. These are diverting but if your favorite book is a glorified television show about a boy wizard written for. In american psycho, what is patrick batemans obsession. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Abandon all hope ye who enter here is graffitied across the side of a bank in bloodred paint.
Crucified several women, attached car batteries to their nipples, dismembered them 3. Bateman, who relays the action of the novel, as well as his innermost thoughts. The book plays with themes of media, celebrity, and political violence, and like its predecessor american psycho it uses surrealism to convey a sense of postmodern dread. Mary harron narrates a sequence from her 2000 film american psycho, which will screen as part of the woman is a genre series at film forum in manhattan. American psycho 2 is a sloppy mess that patrick bateman. Jul 26, 2010 the parallels between the lives of his narrators and the author come so close as to verge on farcical. I waited to write those scenes until the book was finished. Then when it finally happens you barely recognize it on the big screen. American psycho, bret easton ellis american psycho is a novel, by bret easton ellis, published in 1991.
The theme of vice and violence in american psycho from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. American psycho summary from litcharts the creators of. Jan 30, 2019 the best experience i think is offered by the audio book on audible. Although reactions to the novel were mixed, ellis holds it in high esteem among his own works. To say that it has any redeeming social value, or that. Their early work was a little too new wave for my tastes, but when sports came out in 83, i think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically.
Appearance is probably the root theme of both ellis novel so it comes as no surprise that one of the takeaways from american psycho the film is that a killer outfit goes a long way to deceiving those around you. See more ideas about american psycho, christian bale and american. There are parts of this book where patrick bateman has completely lost it. Bret easton ellis appears to be pondering a sequel to his most famous novel, american psycho, in which his antihero patrick bateman might stalk gavin rossdale, murder david beckham and. The film adaptation of american psycho, bret easton ellis satire on 1980s materialism, has solidified itself in pop culture, inspiring dozens of parodies and thousands of halloween costumes. Its a book that people think theyve made their minds up on. That was its point, argues irvine welsh it is a brilliant. Everyone was reading the book among my friends i liked the book very much. Hunter, american psycho is largely a critique of the shallow and vicious aspects of capitalism. A few things he does in the book that they cantdid not show in the movie.
May 25, 2016 that being said, i will say that watching psycho is generally a more enjoyable experience than reading the book because of the work stef and hitch did on both marion and norman, making them far more likable and empatheticspecifically with marion, whose motives are far more nuanced and rooted in love rather than tradition, and with norman. Aug 08, 20 while mary harrons christian balestarring adaptation of american psycho has become a cult favorite, author bret easton ellis has never been a fan of her movie. I like books that kind of push you out of your comfort zone. Based on the novel by bret easton ellis and featuring the sounds of huey lewis and other classic early 80s gems, this satire set in 1980s manhattan follows the. I keep hoping for one of his books to grab ahold of me. What are some similar books if i enjoyed american psycho. What your favorite american psycho quote says about you. I guess my rebuttal is that what makes american psycho great is not actually what ellis says but how he says it. Objections to the book led to its cancellation by its original publisher in 1990.
When published in 1991, bret easton elliss american psycho caused outrage for its depictions of violence, especially towards women. Patrick bateman moves among the young and trendy in 1980s manhattan. The murders were pretty hard to listen to way over the top. It was really about what is going on with men now, in terms of surface narcissism. The novelists function is to keep a running tag on the progress of the culture. Set in manhattan during the wall street boom of the late 1980s, american psycho follows the life of wealthy young investment banker patrick.
This book captures the vain, narcissistic, and materialistic nature of wall street life. And then i read everything else of bret easton ellis my favourite. The reader is introduced to the novels narrator, patrick bateman, a 27yearold wall street investment banker. After watching american psycho, christian bale went straight to my top five favorite. Bret easton ellis is a very, very good writer and american psycho is a beautifully controlled, careful, important novel. Young, handsome, and well educated, bateman earns his fortune on wall street by day while spending his nights in ways we cannot begin to fathom. Lists that contain american psycho by bret easton ellis goodreads. My favorite feature of this book was the authors exceptional capability to. The modern classic, the basis of a broadway musical, and major motion picture from lions gate films starring christian bale, chloe sevigny, jared leto, and reese witherspoon, and directed by mary harron.
American psycho is a novel by bret easton ellis, published in 1991. One of publishings most respected and outspoken figures, straus says american psycho is the most revolting book i have ever read. Its october and i want to write something with an izuku psychopath and one of my favorite movie and book. He isnt the first, the last or the best to write about the vanity and narcissism of the upper class. Mary harron narrates a scene from american psycho the. I was reading the book and i remember thinking why the fuck would a guy who likes the talking heads rant about whitney houston. In the novel, bateman is a huge fan of the nowpresidential candidate donald trump, at one point attending a u2 concert because he is told. None of my friends read the book but all they think its about is a crazy rich guy thats perverted and kills people. Ive read the book, ive listened to the audio version, and ive seen the movie about three times. Bret easton ellis says the book that would become american psycho didnt start as a novel about a serial killer, and shares the reallife experience of his that proved the turning point. The story is told in the first person by patrick bateman, a serial killer and manhattan.
Where would patrick bateman eat, drink, and party in contemporary new york. Bret easton ellis contemplates american psycho sequel. Patrick bateman is a fictional character and the protagonist, as well as the narrator, of the novel american psycho by bret easton ellis, and its film adaptation. Lunar park is about a writer called bret easton ellis who wrote a notorious book called. The book ends as it began, with bateman and his colleagues at a new club on a friday night, engaging in banal conversation. American psycho is a beautifully controlled, careful, important novel. He works on wall street, has a pretty girlfriend, and spends most of his life in trendy restaurants and clubs. Jun 09, 2010 the modern classic, the basis of a broadway musical, and major motion picture from lions gate films starring christian bale, chloe sevigny, jared leto, and reese witherspoon, and directed by mary harron. If youre going to say this is your favorite book, you might as well tell the truth.
Irvine welsh american psycho is a modern classic books. The book obviously offers much more detail compared to the film, and the latt. What was one of the most memorable moments of american psycho. I was so disappointed in that book that i gave it to the library for their friends sale. Matt damon and christian bale get real about weight loss, batman vs. In american psycho, what is patrick batemans obsession with. Get everything you need to know about vice and violence in american psycho. American psycho in american psycho, bret easton ellis imaginatively explores the incomprehensible depths of madness and captures the insanity of violence in our time or any other. I still think american psycho should be in my top ten books of all time. Whats the difference between american psycho the book and american psycho the movie.
Although, having worked for people with the same status of affluence as most of the characters in the book, i did find it a bit disconcerting to see how limitless that particular lifestyle. As a cultural referendum, the decision was even more decisive. The most disturbing books ever written, best books ever, darkest books of all time, bes. In american psycho, what is patrick batemans obsession with music.
Jun 03, 2016 mary harron narrates a sequence from her 2000 film american psycho, which will screen as part of the woman is a genre series at film forum in manhattan. American psycho by bret easton ellis booksamillion. Other novels that fall under what i would call the literature of depravity. Jan 10, 2015 when published in 1991, bret easton elliss american psycho caused outrage for its depictions of violence, especially towards women. There were times during the most obscene scenes of torture, rape and murder that i understood her need to wipe it out. What bret easton elliss novel teaches us about capitalism.
Mar 08, 1991 one of publishings most respected and outspoken figures, straus says american psycho is the most revolting book i have ever read. I was disappointed with imperial bedrooms and bought the first edition not waiting for the paperback. American psycho is a brutal satire of the american upper middle class, set amongst the yuppies of new york during the boom era of the 1980s. As much as i find people like bateman, craig mcdermott and. Alison kelly of the observer notes that while some countries deem it so potentially disturbing that it can only be sold shrinkwrapped, critics rave about it and academics revel in its transgressive and postmodern qualities.
As a huge fan of the book and a relatively big fan of the film adaption, im duly concerned about this development. The publication of the novel did not initially prove sweet vindication for ellis. He is a wealthy, materialistic wall street investment banker who exhibits a double life as a serial killer. Besides, this girls favourite movie is pretty in pink and she thinks sting is. I cant speak for everyone, of course, but i enjoy it for few reasons.
But the attention helped it become a bestseller when it was published in 1991. Sorry if this was rambling and incoherent, but i find some of the ideas. There really isnt any point in talking about american psycho, especially if youre a chick. The theme of vice and violence in american psycho from. Differences between american psycho book vs movie page 1. She hated it so much that she violently tore it apart. A post modern horror american psycho choosing knives. Is pat bateman and markus and paul allen in the movie american psycho the. The book is now going through the editing process at vintage. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in american psycho, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.