American Psycho Review ⭐️
Since its publication, Bret Easton Ellis’ novel, ‘American Psycho,’ has received the praise and ridicule of many people.
'American Psycho' is a book that shows a world where consumerism and materialism break a man to the point where he no longer recognizes himself.
‘American Psycho’ by Bret Easton Ellis is a novel about a narcissistic psychopath and pathologically lonely 1980s Manhattan Wall Street investment banker, Patrick Bateman. The story follows Patrick as he enters the incomprehensible depths of madness to become a killer that enjoys torture and sadistic rape. Though the novel received good reviews from critics, it became controversial, as the sheer brutality portrayed made people believe Bret Eason Ellis was a sadist. Years after its publication, many scholars and critics believe the novel’s themes apply to modern-day society.
For the longest time, Bret was defensive of the controversial ‘American Psycho.‘ Upon its release, it became one of the most sadistic and brutal stories in literature. Though a great novel in the eyes of many, it received backlash for its glaring misogyny and violence. However, in recent years, Bret would admit that he got inspired by his lifestyle. He stated that the apocalyptic horror depicted in the pages of his story stemmed from his internal struggle to define himself in a world where consumerism shaped society.
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‘Politics is Murder’ by Nick Tyrone is a masterful satire about a woman Charlotte Heard, who finds herself in a male-dominated world of Westminster think tank. Though she strives to become an MP, she faces a severe setback as she lands amid a murder investigation. To save her career, Charlotte tries to find who is trying to frame her.
‘It’ by Stephen King is a horror novel about seven children, Bill, Ben, Richie, Eddie, Bev, Mike, and Stan, who defeat a supernatural creature called It when young. Twenty-seven years after the first incident, the beast awakens, and the group, now adults, travel back to the town they first defeated the creature. They then learn that the monster is an ancient being that existed before humanity. With the help of a magical turtle, the group destroys the beast once and for all.
‘The Outsider’ by Stephen King is a horror novel about a detective Ralph Anderson stuck in a mysterious investigation. After the death of a local town boy, Frank Peterson, Detective Ralph begins investigating the scene and questioning people close to where the tragedy occurs. When multiple eyewitnesses place Coach Terry Maitland of the little boys league at the crime scene, Ralph arrests him while a game goes on.
The news of Terry murdering Frank spreads like wildfire, and though Terry maintains his innocence, Ralph places him as the prime suspect. Everything changes when new leads place Terry outside the city on the day of the murder. With Ralph beginning to doubt his theory, the investigation halts as Terry gets killed. Ralph continues investigating and learns Frank’s death is the handwork of a mysterious creature.
‘American Psycho’ is an exceptional piece of writing. As an acclaimed new york times best-seller, the novel has become a modern classic in American literature. With many critics and media outlets like Washington Post stating its importance in the progress of culture, it has become a symbol portraying the problems of American consumerism.
On its publication, many comments praising Ellis’s genius propped up:
A great novel. What Emerson said about genius, that it’s the return of one’s rejected thoughts with an alienated majesty, holds true for American Psycho. There is a fever to the life of this book that is, in my reading, unknown in American literature.
-Michael Tolkin
The first novel to come along in years that takes on deep and Dostoyevskian themes. Ellis is showing older authors where the hands come to on the clock.
-Norman Mailer
Bret Easton Ellis is a very, very good writer and American Psycho is a beautifully controlled, careful, important novel. The novelist’s function is to keep a running tag on the progress of culture; and he’s done it brilliantly. A seminal book.
Fay Weldon
However, others believed the book to be a woman-hating story depicting brutal violence against women.
Since its publication, Bret Easton Ellis’ novel, ‘American Psycho,’ has received the praise and ridicule of many people.
In ‘American Psycho,’ Patrick blames the societal pressure to look and act perfect as a catalyst for his insanity.
In ‘American Psycho,’ Patrick struggles to retain his sanity in a materialistic and vanity-ruled world.
In Bret Easton Ellis’s ‘American Psycho,’ society gets over-saturated by the endless products the wealthy attain to give their life definition.
Laced with themes about societal decadence and materialism, ‘American Psycho’ has become somewhat of a warning for the masses.
Though he claims to be interested in world issues, Patrick Bateman hides a secret from the world, his obsession. ‘American Psycho’ exposes Patrick’s secret.