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Introduction


American Psycho, written by Bret Easton Ellis has always been simply one of "those" classic novels. Before reading this book, I only had a vague idea of what the American Psycho experience would be like. It's one of those books that are referenced so often in popular culture and thus seems to be one of those books that everyone has to read, just to gain that cultural knowledge. I was excited to read about a psychopath because they've always been both the most interesting and frightening people to learn about. The questions I often ask myself about empathy and genuineness often relate to my endless curiosity for psychopaths. Therefore, I was really looking forward to finally learning about what all those references are about and about psychopaths in general. I hope that this book will give me insight on the unique perspective of a psychopath and how they integrate themselves in society, especially since I assume that their apathy disconnects them from the fundamental social conventions of the world that are fueled by empathetic relationships.

Although my interest in this book is generally motivated by my genuine curiosity for the premise of the book, after having read some of it, I realize now how different the writing style is. This book is so much more different than any other book I've read. The protagonist is extremely complex, but this complexity is demonstrated with a unique subtlety that is not as obvious as in most other novels that I've read. Bret Easton Ellis is a very thoughtful writer who stays consistent throughout the book -- or, at least throughout the portion that I've read so far. There are so many things to discuss about this book, and that is what this blog will ultimately be dedicated to. For the next month or so, I will be reading the book and blogging about it one third of the book at a time. What I'm most looking forward to discussing the most is the psychoanalysis of the protagonist, Patrick Bateman.


When I'm done the book, or after reading the majority of it, I will for sure watch the movie. So far, I can imagine exactly how the story could be captured on screen. I know that in the movie, there will be even more layers incorporated in the story, which will add a level of depth that will be interesting to investigate. I look forward to comparing the story that I had in mind with the story that is generally watched.


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