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Is the book "American Psycho" a masterpiece?

captainballs

captainballs

Bluelighter
Joined
Sep 21, 2004
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I haven't completely developed my own opinion yet about whether it really belongs next to shit like 1984, so I was hoping to hear other people's input...
 
It was okay, but I wouldn't rank it in the same league as 1984. Not even close IMO. It just isn't bleak enough, and resorts too much to cheap shock rather than the sheer hopelesness of most of Orwell's work. I'd rate it around the same as Irvine Welsh's Filth , except that Welsh played around a lot more with language and the tapeworm character to garner interest.

That's the problem with art and literature, it's completely subjective. I was more grossed out than anything when I read American Psycho. Other than a heavy-handed critique of the superficiality of American consumer culture there wasn't much substance there at all. I'd rather read Harry Potter to be honest.
 
I can't believe you put Orwell and Ellis in the same sentence. Sure American Psycho is a great book, but it has nothing on even the most mediocre of Orwell's works... Actually I wouldn't consider any or Orwell's books mediocre, they are all great...
 
it sums up an era pretty well; but nothing else.

i give it 9/10. i give 1984 10/10
 
My friends and I stopped watching the film, we thought it was so terrible ... no other occasion comes to mind where I stopped watching a movie partway through merely because I was so displeased by it.

I just finished reading Less than Zero, the first novel by this author ... as a story it was OK; if I didn't find such great resonance between my own life and the character in that book, I surely would have hated it.

Anyone who has read both novels care to comment on similarities / reasons I should explore this author further?
 
Ellis is hands down my favourite author ever. I'm a big fan of his dark humour. I have read and do currently own every one of his books ever written, and would read them 800 times again.
 
To silverfeniks: if u don't mind incredibly fucking disturbing literature, you should try to read the book. Actually, it depends on why you didn't like the movie. If you thought the main character was too shallow or something, then maybe the book might not be such a good idea (it's really a matter of opinion that is probably split 50/50 on whether or not Pat Bateman is really shallow or really complex, or just plain simple...) The book has a lot of different dimensions and it's not that long...
 
I think all of Ellis's books are great, Glamorama is one of my favorites. The movies definetly lacked something, a couple were ok but American Psycho slacked IMO.
 
AstridAsteroid said:
Ellis is hands down my favourite author ever. I'm a big fan of his dark humour. I have read and do currently own every one of his books ever written, and would read them 800 times again.
Click to expand...

Oh, well isn't that cute. You exemplify the very character Ellis often aims to satirize, Mrs. Louis Vuitton.

8)
 
no

his satire overpowers his books. it damages the success of the actual stories.

the idea of ellis is better than the result.
 
Ellis appeals to my satirical and dark side, so I am no doubt a fan of his work.

however on the bookshelf he should not be right next to Orwell.
 
I never read the book but the movie was spectacular. Three stars in my book which is hard to pull. I wouldn't even begin to say it ranks next to such masterpeices as 1984 or shakespear though.
 
Ellis could easliy be next to Orwell and Shakespeare on a shelf.

I think that we give incredible weight to historical literature, but not enough to the current stuff.

American Psycho was mindblowing! It was hilarious and sickening. The cheap shock tactics were tantamount to the 80's. The commercialism was just awesome.

Hmm, spot the Ellis fan.
 
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