American Psycho

Price

It seems that the biggest debate about this book is if Bateman actually killed anyone or not. I've been looking at the book in a more symbolic sense and I believe most of the murders are in his head. The whole point of the book is Bateman getting fantasy mixed with reality. A big thing I noticed though is Tim Price. He appears in the beginning of the book and just kind of "drops off the face of the earth". He's also one of the only people Bateman never had murderous urges towards. I think Price may represent Bateman's sanity. After he "left" in the beginning of the book is when Batman started getting descriptive about his sadistic thoughts. Also, he and Evelyn go to to Price's house in the Hamptons...but he hasn't been around for almost a year. While they are at Price's house Bateman tries to act as "normal" as possible. This is just my little interpretation.

Does Patrick Bateman actually kill anybody

This is a deeply unpleasant, but truly profound book, a comment on 80s vacuity. (if a profound comment on vacuity isn't an oxymoron) The question I had at the end is does Bateman actually kill anyone ? My conclusion was no. My reason ? The constant repetition about returning the videos.

Was Patrick really a psychopath?

I'm not asking about whether or not he actually killed people. As many have said, I think there are some things that were real and some that were completely in his mind. What intrigues me is whether or not he is actually a psychopath in the strict sense of the word. A psychopath is, essentially, a person who cannot feel empathy. They have difficulty understanding the emotions experienced by others. In addition, they are charismatic and friendly on the outside, but will do whatever is necessary to other people to get what they want. My reasons for thinking Patrick is not a psychopath are: 1) he is sometimes very emotional (for example, when he feels so embarrassed about the Diet Pepsi remark that he feels like he could cry), 2) (relatedly) he cares too much about what others think about him, and 3) the fact that he does not kill Luis. Of the three, the one that really has me thinking is 3. Why doesn't he kill Luis? He's (arguably) killed other people in the book for far less, and yet, in the scene in the department store, he even warns Luis to go or he'll be killed. I think Patrick wants to think of himself as a psychopath because, to him, there is something glamorous about that. But while he is certainly crazy, I don't think I would call him a psychopath.

about the book

i thought it was very well written; he has a different writing style than anyone i've ever read. bret easton ellis can make the most boring situation an interesting one. i enjoyed rules of attraction and less than zero, but i felt that the extremely graphic violence in this was more offputting than amusing. there were parts in the book (ie: killing of the gay guy and his dog) where i had to skip over a page or two iin order to aviod being disturbed, which would sometimes be inevitable due to the short phrases occasionally thrown into otherwise normal descriptions ("thick ropey string of blood" when talking of cocaine abuse). i saw the movie prior to reading the book and had heard many fans of the book thought the movie wasn't graphic enoough - now i realize what they mean. i had a tough time getting through the book, but if you enjoy things of that nature and don't mind EXTREME graphic descriptions of violent acts, go for it.

i thought the movie was good, and i actually liked it better. some parts were stupid, but i enoyed the irony throughout - how his superficial surroundings literally drove him to madness.

This book had the following effect on me...

It made me want to buy some nice suits and eat at expensive restaurants.

Thankfully.