American Psycho Novel review

Bret Easton Ellis (born March 7, 1964) is an American author, screenwriter, short-story writer, and director. Ellis was first regarded as one of the so-called literary Brat Pack and is a self-proclaimed satirist whose trademark technique, as a writer, is the expression of extreme acts and opinions in an affectless style. His novels commonly share recurring characters.
When Ellis was 21, his first novel, the controversial bestseller Less Than Zero (1985) ,was published. His third novel, American Psycho (1991), was his most successful. Upon its release the literary establishment widely condemned it as overly violent and misogynistic. Though many petitions to ban the book saw Ellis dropped by Simon & Schuster, the resounding controversy convinced Alfred A. Knopf to release it as a paperback later that year. Ellis's novels have become increasingly metafictional. Lunar Park (2005), a pseudo-memoir and ghost story, received positive reviews. Imperial Bedrooms (2010), marketed as a sequel to Less Than Zero, continues in this vein.
Four of Ellis's works have been made into films. Less Than Zero was adapted in 1987 as a film of the same name, but the film bore little resemblance to the novel. Mary Harron's adaptation of American Psycho was released in 2000. Roger Avary's adaptation of The Rules of Attraction was released in 2002. The Informers, co-written by Ellis and based on his collection of short stories, was released in 2008. Ellis also wrote the screenplay for the 2013 film The Canyons.

American Psycho novel review by Bret Easton Ellis

American Psycho, authored by Bret Easton Ellis and published in 1991, presents a chilling narrative. The story unfolds through the first-person perspective of Patrick Bateman, a wealthy, self-absorbed Manhattan investment banker who, purportedly, leads a double life as a serial killer. Alison Kelly, writing for The Observer, highlights the novel's controversial nature, noting that in some countries, it is sold shrink-wrapped due to its potentially disturbing content. Despite this, the book has received critical acclaim, with critics praising its transgressive and postmodern qualities, while academics delve into its depths.

American Psycho delves into the unfathomable realms of madness and unveils the horrors of violence in our contemporary era. Set amidst the vibrant backdrop of 1980s Manhattan, Patrick Bateman, young, handsome, and well-educated, accumulates his wealth on Wall Street by day, while his nighttime activities remain shrouded in mystery. Through acts of torture and murder, Bateman embodies a true sense of self, foreshadowing an apocalyptic nightmare too unsettling for any society to confront.

This gripping tale has also been adapted into a major motion picture by Lion's Gate Films, featuring a star-studded cast including Christian Bale ("Metroland"), Chloe Sevigny ("The Last Days of Disco"), Jared Leto ("My So-Called Life"), and Reese Witherspoon ("Cruel Intentions"), with direction by Mary Harron ("I Shot Andy Warhol").