A careful, controlled, and shocking novel, American Psycho by Brenton Easton Ellis remains one of the most controversial and important pieces of modern literature. It's release in the early 90's was met with protests by women's rights groups and numerous family, church, and concerned psychological institutions due to it's extraordinarily brutal and graphic accounts of violence and torture carried out by it's protagonist and narrator, Patrick Bateman. With the majority of these groups campaigning against the fear that unstable minds may pick up the book and carry out the methods described in the story.
The novel itself a bleak satire, which follows the life of Patrick Bateman, a high-class, high spending, coke addicted yuppie who enjoys killing time (excuse the pun) by attending the latest uptown restaurants with his fellow socialite friends; and killing people. For in a world that relies on appearance to determine personal integrity; Bateman's darkly handsome features, respected executive position at a large stock broking firm, and impeccable choice in suits and casual clothing are all accepted as a substitute for his true self.
Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in the film adap...
American Psycho
Patrick Bateman (EP)Superficiality was the order of the day, served up alongside the huge materialism and mass spending that was prevalent among the 80's "Greed" era. It is to be noted that the events in this story occurred after the 1987 stock market crash, and from the impression given, those living the high life were not greatly affected by it either.
The novel's language is especially important. It is unlike anything else you will have ever read before, not just in a plot/character development sense, but also in the way the author has actually written the story. The language is sharp and fast, with some sentences extending for quite some listing many numerous elements without even seemingly letting up for the reader...