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"American Psycho" (yeah, I know it's old, but...)

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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2000 5:43 pm Post subject:

So, am I totally alone in liking the book, "American Psycho"? The debate on this book is about a decade old, but I just got around to reading it over the summer and found that I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. It drags in several places (kind of an understatement actually, unless you enjoy reading about expensive clothes and unaffordable restaurants), and the violent scenes are way beyond violent. But I feel I understand what Ellis was going for here in that , "plot-be-damned, critics-be-damned, people-with-weak-stomaches-be-double-damned, this is how a psychotic person would think and act!" I feel a certain amount of respect for the guy (Ellis, not Bateman)- he HAD to know that critics would bash this book unmercifully, but he wrote it anyway on his terms. The repetition of the book is hard to accept at times, but there's also a certain element of humor to it. It helps to show how single-minded, greedy and selfish yuppies in the 80's (and the 90's and the 00's) were, taken to the extreme because of this guy's psychosis. I've read that many women's groups boycotted this book because of it's extreme violence towards women, but, to be fair, there was extreme violence towards about every race, gender and age group there is!! Sure, this book definitely isn't for your average Jackie Collins-reading housewife, but if one comes into the experience with a little forknowledge of what Bret Easton Ellis is going for in this book, it is, in my humble opinion, a good indictment on the materialistic, chauvinistic, and psychotic extreme a human being may be capable of. Thank you for your time... Submitted By: creeping death

Guest

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2000 6:51 pm Post subject:

I have yet to read the book but I have seen the movie (argh, I just hate having to say that) and I enjoyed it. The reason I have yet to read the book is because I need to get the movie out of my head, just so I can start the novel with a fresh mind. As far as critics and activists bashing the book...hey, it's my belief that it ain't worth reading/watching if there are not several people out their who absolutely hate it. If it doesn't get under someones skin then what's the point Submitted By: Mr Self Affliction

Guest

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2000 8:43 pm Post subject:

I, like Mr. SA, have only seen the movie, not read the book. But, based on the ideas presented in the movie, I can understand your comments about violence and humor. I respect any author's decision to write a book on his own terms, and I often think violence is misinterpreted. People judge anything with violent content before even reading it (or watching it). I found the movie "American Psycho" to be a lot more insightful and fleshed out than any article I read on it gave it credit for. Sounds like the book is the same - Upon your recommendation, I may pick it up now! Submitted By: Deena

Guest

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2000 6:34 pm Post subject:

Not to spoil the party but I'll just have to have my say here regarding AMERICAN PSYCHO. I had a hard time with this book. Far from dynamic, it is a tedious read with characters you can't get to like one single bit. This was obviously an aim from the writer himself, to accentuate their soul-lessness, as it were, by their yuppie and asshole ways of handling themselves, their shallow values and general dislikable mannerism. What it amounts to, at least for me, is to sedate the reader so you don't get to feel a single thing for any one of them when they are submitted to the most hideous acts of torture I've certainly read. I saw what Brett Easton Ellis was aiming for in this novel, but as an entertaning work of fiction it plain sucked to me. I guess I'm used to books with plots and structure and build-ups, and this book had none of that. That's why I disliked it. I'd have to say; be in no hurry to start this one to anyone who hasn't. I do have another novel waiting by Ellis titled GLAMORAMA. I'm apprehensive about starting this one, but I guess I must soon since I got it from my aunt for Christmas and she's always asking whether I've read it yet whenever I see her. It DOES look good, though. And from what some reviews hint at, it's to be a more literally inclined book that AMERICAN PSYCHO is. Submitted By: Fenny

Guest

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2000 2:10 am Post subject:

I guess the movie hasn't come your way yet (or has it?), but when it does please see it and tell me what you think. I really liked the movie but like I said, I have yet to read the book. I'm curious to see if you enjoy the movie over the book or maybe you'll hate it even more. But either way I need to know. Submitted By: Mr Self Affliction

Guest

Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2000 6:57 pm Post subject:

Okay I have read the book and seen the movie and all I have to say is that they both sucked! Now I know u guys will get upset over this but it's the truth. I read the book before I saw the movie. I was hoping the movie would be better but it wasn't. The only redeeming thing about the movie was that the psycho guy was cute. I really hate to sound so superficial but that's how I feel about it. And besides it sorta made me sick. Submitted By: Misty

Guest

Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2000 7:39 pm Post subject:

Sorry to hear you feel that way Misty but we've all got our own opinions. I on the other hand felt the movie to be really well done and enjoyable. Submitted By: Mr Self Affliction

Guest

Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2000 11:14 pm Post subject:

When the movie comes out on video I'll pick it up sometime or another. I'm curious myself for I believe that with the proper expertise it's possible to make a more streamlined story for this one on film than in its literary mode. It wouldn't be the first time I've enjoyed film over book. THE EXORCIST springs easily to mind. Carpenter's version of THE THING made of John W. Campbell's WHO GOES THERE? is another. Submitted By: Fenny

Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2000 1:17 am Post subject:

Another incident in which the movie was better than the book, although I'm sure not everyone will agree, was THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. The book was indeed good but I felt that Hopkins and Foster captured something completly their own within the movie. Submitted By: Mr Self Affliction

Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2000 1:35 pm Post subject:

"I felt that Hopkins and Foster captured something completely their own within the movie." I heartily agree with the above statement, but I have to point out something that may not have occurred to a lot of us who saw the movie AFTER reading the book... When I saw TSOTL for the first time, I brought along a friend who's never read any of Harris' work. I loved every minute of it, but when it was over, as my friend & I discussed the film, it became obvious that to him, "Buffalo Bill" was a completely opaque character. The next time I saw it, I tried to watch more objectively, and damn if I didn't realize I'd been unconsciously filling in some pretty big blanks in the film's non-Lecter/Starling character developments. Sorry. In this case, the book is infinitely more satisfying than the film. Later, RomanyX Submitted By: RomanyX

Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2000 5:37 pm Post subject:

Actually, I read the book before I saw the movie. I loved the book but there were moments just like in Hannibal when Harris went a little overboard with the expositional stuff. You're right, the audience didn't get a lot of Buffalo Bill (they did get enough to fulfill the two hours though) in the movie but I don't think that really matters because the movie and the book ended up doing two completely different things. Where as the book was definitely more plot driven, the movie was more character driven. Submitted By: Mr Self Affliction

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