Allreaders.com

American Psycho Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of American Psycho


Patrick Bateman is wallstreet stock trader with issues. In a mutually loveless relationship and surrounded by phony friends who care as little about him as he cares about them, Bateman believes that life is pointless because he can do whatever he wants with no consequences. All the characters in Ellis' book only concern themselves with clothes, status, work, drugs and sex and they all remain hollow in any descriptions given. Gradually, minor acts of violence and sex fail to arouse Bateman so his habits turn increasingly severe.
Click here to see the rest of this review...


American Psycho is a critique of the 1980's yuppie lifestyle which he lived through. This book is not for those with a weak stomach or those who are impatient as much of the text is spent of describing superficial aspects of the characters and the surroundings such as clothes, hair styles, interior decors, etc.
The review of this Book prepared by NIck Matthews




Ellis's savage satire on the Me Decade mentality features a young, handsome, and wealthy Wall Street operator who tortures and murders women for the hell of it. Patrick Bateman obsesses about restaurants, suits, business cards and wristwatches as well as filming his grisly exploits and festooning NY apartments with body parts. Interspersed with Bateman's accounts of his serial murders are straight-faced essays about such "great artists" as Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, and Huey Lewis. A fascinating but very cold piece of storytelling.
The review of this Book prepared by David Loftus



Chapter Analysis of American Psycho

Click on a plot link to find similar books!

Plot & Themes

Tone of book?    -   depressed Time/era of story    -   1980's-1999 Romance/Romance Problems    -   Yes Kind of romance:    -   boatload of casual sex without love Internal struggle/realization?    -   Yes Struggle over    -   nature of existence (heavy philosophy) Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Main char. serviced by prostitute?    -   Yes Drinking/Drugs problems?    -   drugs

Main Character

Gender    -   Male Profession/status:    -   killer    -   business executive Age:    -   20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality    -   White (American) Unusual characteristics:    -   Mentally ill    -   Extremely cynical or arrogant

Setting

How much descriptions of surroundings?    -   2 () United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Northeast City?    -   Yes City:    -   New York    -   wealthy    -   rude people

Writing Style

Sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   vague references only    -   descript of kissing    -   touching of anatomy    -   licking    -   orgies    -   lesbians!    -   actual description of hetero sex    -   Boob talk!    -   Vagia talk!    -   Weiner talk!    -   rape/molest Lot of foul language?    -   Yes Amount of dialog    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog    -   little dialog

Books with storylines, themes & endings like American Psycho

Bret Easton Ellis Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
2 Ways to Search!
Or



Our Chief Librarian