Has anyone read this book?
Its the most sickest book ive read but i finished it last night and if im not mistaked it has an amazingly powerful truth behind it.
I think the film version missed out this point which was a sad mistake.
Has anyone read this book and seen the message?

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Originally posted by Beany:
Has anyone read this book and seen the message?

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I read the book a few years ago, I also saw the movie. The book has a strong anti-female theme to it. What do you think the message was?

Well maybe im just relating it to my own thoughts.

But all the way through the book it shows how he wants all the best stuff, the best job, the best body. everything needs to be the best because thats the only thing that makes him feel of any worth.
But none of these things bring happiness and so he never feels any good emotions, only bad ones.
Since he only feels bad emotions he only knows how to express himself the same way. (through killings etc).
Then near the end the secratary 'jean' has a great talk with him that makes him realise there is no goodness within him at all. It brings him back to earth and he shows slight signs of becoming good.

If you read the last page patrick tells that to be patrick is to fit in (instead of being oneself).
Then he looks up and sees a sign saying 'this is not an exit'

Ie: trying to fit in will bring unhappiness.
Be yourself.

Dya see what im getting at?
Beany

American Psycho? Strong anti-female theme? You complete moron.

The narrator is a fucking psycho, who likes to cut people up and fuck severed heads. Therefore most of what he says is a load of shit, like his anti-female staements, his anti-homeless stance, and his gross indulgence... which is the point of the book. The narrator is a shallow bigot. Therefore views in the book are those of a shallow bigot. That is why the book is a satire.

If you say the female characters in the book are a bunch of cunts, good. So are all the men. To paint women as better than men for the sake of political correctness is just stupid, and would undermine the authors artistic integrity.

The book was excellent, although a bit heavy going, and had so many points and social commentaries to it that it will forever remain a work of genius. Film was OK, but worked more as a black comedy than a piece of art.

Thank you and goodnight.

I'm a complete moron...why? Only because I was trying to recall the basis of a story I read years ago? There was a large outcry against this book when it was first published. Many people complained of the misogynistic actions of the main character. The author even admited to researching serial killers and the concentration camps looking for perverse sexual acts against women. He then took those stories and incorporated them into his book.

Dont worry bout it templeton.
You aint a moron

But i did enjoy reading the rest of his message

I've no idea why but i just realised that the format/style of American Psycho reminds me a lot of the narration style of Catcher in The Rye. I guess just the way that its got parts of social commentry and the detail he sometimes goes into.
But yes i enjoyed the book, and i got that meaning too beany. I think the movie was also very good, very well done, but a completely different message. The movie leaves you wondering whether Bateman actually did commit the crimes or whether he is delusional but also leaves the watcher with a few unresolved thoughts which are some of the key messages of the film.
A lot of people i think found all the detail that the book goes into into seemingly insignificant things trying, but i thought it was really good how it all tied together at different points during the book but also in a bigger way at the end.

Speaking of the book and film, i am still a bit confused as to wether he is patrick bateman.
Some people talk about patrick bateman whilst talking to him yet some people actually call him patrick bateman.
I was a wee bit confused

The violence to women and in general was definitely a smokescreen for that book. A way to turn heads, draw attention, etc� and accomplished. Some people definitely over reacted to it, and they missed the point.

Today, and even then there was some equally gory media out there... just sighting TV and film is enough.

The strong nature of destruction that surrounded the book hide some brilliant themes though (which makes me a fan)...

One of which answers your last question and was my favorite.

Materialistic identity... identity...

Like how Ellis almost never describes one physical feature of a person, if it isn't sexual or style related. Characters are introduced by their clothing, their manicures... and such. So that in the end Patrick�s eye color, hair color, and so on; have completely eluded us.

Hence, these people that value materials so highly, are easily mistaken for someone they aren't. People are looking at suits and trying to tell who that is in the corner by it. Patrick is constantly mistaken for another, while he's also constantly guessing at other's identities... He is Patrick by name� but that�s the point, his dilemma: the person he is, is only a shell� like everyone around him. Evelyn?, that character was way scarier than Patrick.


[This message has been edited by cntrdcton0fate (edited 04-23-2002).]

quote:

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Originally posted by Beany:
Speaking of the book and film, i am still a bit confused as to wether he is patrick bateman.
Some people talk about patrick bateman whilst talking to him yet some people actually call him patrick bateman.
I was a wee bit confused

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I think it was emphasising the point that they were all the same to each other, just another wall street millionaire it was more important where they had their hair cut etc etc and what they wore rather than what kind of person they were....
it just reinforced the theme of materialism.

its a great book, i read it only recently, i was a bit confused by the end though, it just seemed to stop.


price is a great charecter

price, your priceless