u/Open-Culture9752

This novel made me feel like I was inside the mind of a psychopath. It is told from the perspective of the main character, Patrick Bateman.

This was by far the most disturbing book I have ever read. The detail of the murders was so gruesome I questioned whether I could continue reading the book several times. A fascinating fact I read is that the author himself, while writing these scenes, didn’t know if Patrick was actually carrying these acts out or just imagining them.

The author does so well to fully articulate Patrick’s mind. He is so empty with such a vapid personality that extreme violence is the only thing that gives him any rush, any feeling, any sense of being alive. Otherwise, his mind is only occupied by the superficial and his own human ego. So many pages of this book are filled with elaborate descriptions of outfits, his takes on music, or his extensive facial care routine.

There is a scene in the book where he meets his brother for dinner. Beforehand, he describes an exclusive restaurant that he has never been able to get reservations at: Dorsia. We are given the impression that Patrick’s brother is a loser and that Patrick is much more successful. To Patrick’s dismay, his brother not only got a reservation at Dorsia, but he is a regular with a special table there.
Patrick thinks, “my worst fear has been realized.”
Then it’s like his mind short-circuits, and he focuses on other things. His ego will not allow him to feel lesser than his brother, his ego interrupts any thoughts of inferiority and he instead focuses on what might make him feel better in that moment.
It is such a fascinating chapter from a psychological standpoint.

Many people say this story is a satire/ comedy. The comedy is in the details, if the outfits described were assembled in real life these people would look like clowns. Patrick tells his yuppie friends that he’s a killer to their faces, but they’re all so caught up in themselves they don’t even notice.

I would recommend it highly for anyone who wants to better understand the mind of a psychopath. Which, in the US, we have the highest numbers of them per-capita.
I would not recommend the book for those who are sensitive to gore, because this book paints some horrific pictures.

All-in-all, no book has ever made me think as much as this one did, I have a lot of respect for it! This story will grip you and you’ll never forget it.

This novel made me feel like I was inside the mind of a psychopath.

This was by far the most disturbing book I have ever read. The detail of the murders was so gruesome I questioned whether I could continue reading the book several times. A fascinating fact I read is that the author himself, while writing these scenes, didn’t know if Patrick was actually carrying these acts out or just imagining them.

The author does so well to fully articulate Patrick’s mind. He is so empty with such a vapid personality that extreme violence is the only thing that gives him any rush, any feeling, any sense of being alive. Otherwise, his mind is only occupied by the superficial and his own human ego. I think that’s the purpose of the pages & pages of outfit descriptions, Patrick’s takes on music, or his facial care routine.
At first we all hate those descriptions, but once you’re hooked it becomes part of the whole picture.

One of the chapters that stuck out to me is when Patrick meets his brother for dinner. We learn how exclusive Dorsia is... and it has been impossible for him to get in.
Then, to Patrick’s dismay, his brother not only got a reservation at Dorsia, but he is a regular with a special table there.
Patrick thinks, “my worst fear has been realized.”
Then it’s like his mind short-circuits, and he focuses on other things. His ego will not allow him to feel lesser than his brother, his ego interrupts any thoughts of inferiority and he instead focuses on what might make him feel better in that moment.
It is such a fascinating chapter from a psychological standpoint.

I would recommend it highly for anyone who wants to better understand the mind of a psychopath. Which, in the US, we have the highest numbers of them per-capita.
I would not recommend the book for those who are sensitive to gore, because this book paints some horrific pictures.

All-in-all, no book has ever made me think or captured me as much as this one did, I have a lot of respect for it. I also can’t believe I have this opinion of it now, I almost quit on it after 100 pages!