Has anyone read American Psycho?

Question

Did you worry about the sanity of an author who could write such depraved things?
..........and then worry about yourself for reading such depraved things?

don't get me wrong. I think it is fantastically written, I just felt a bit weird about myself after reading it.

Answer 1

It was deliberately repulsive and because it was written in the first person the violence had a real sense of immediacy. I particularly found the passages about the prostitutes and the pets very difficult, because Ellis somehow makes us like Bateman and we don't want to see him being truly evil and that's what he is.
I loved how there was no obvious reason for his rage, in fact he had everything going for him.
Here's a tip - read Glamorama, because Bateman makes a cameo (bizarrely,so does Christain Bale) in a suit that costs more than a Porsche with strange looking stains on the cuffs - very ominous. He also returns in Lunar Park, but I haven't read that yet, I'm still getting over Glamorama, which is typically black humoured throughout and then goes absolute nuts at the end. Enjoy ; )

Answer 2

As a writer, I often wonder about my OWN sanity, knowing some of the plot details my mind is capable of creating. Writers have vivid imaginations and possess the ability to insert themselves in their characters' minds in order to provide realistic details of the action and dialog.

I don't worry so much about authors like Bret Easton Ellis or Stephen King, as long as they can keep it together in real life. Their books transport us and scare us, giving us goosebumps and shivers. They are geniuses in that respect.

As for worrying about yourself for reading those kinds of stories, it's perfectly natural - it's human nature - to be curious and to address our darker sides. As long as we don't act depraved, or mimic the characters we read about, we're just fine.

I have read American Psycho and didn't care for it but that was mainly because I grew weary of the abundance of Name Brands throughout. The murdering parts were chillingly interesting to me, however.

Answer 3

I couldn't get into it really,and to be honest couldn't see what all the fuss was about-I've read far more disturbing books.
The author just has a vivid imagination that's all,I'm a writer & some of the things I've created plot & character wise might be deemed 'twisted',but it doesn't make me insane-just a writer with a good,creative imagination.

Answer 4

I absolutely love American Psycho as does my best friend and my two adult sons. Bret Harris is a spell binding author and makes you think........was it all real? Was it in Patrick's head? I worried at first that there was something wrong with me for enjoying it, even laughing at some parts. Then others told me that they had the same reactions. I think that was what the author was aiming for. And Christian Bale was just so sexy in the movie..........sigh.

Answer 5

No way,. obviously the author is a genius,.. i mean,. he made some serious cash off of the writings...

As far as "we" go.... Not too worried,...

I mean,.. Theres plenty of other horrible terrible media atrocities out there capable of inducing homicidal or suicidal thoughts.... take the movie Hulk for example,... It made me want to murder everyone in the theatre and then kill myself to free us all from the audio visual holocaust we were forced to endure...

yet,. here I am...

Can't say the same for all those poor other souls in that theater that night,. but thats another story....

:)

Answer 6

havent read the book, but the film..... OMG messed up!

Answer 7

I didn't, nor seen the film. Any good?