It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.
I am still reading American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, which I'll be reviewing for the Banned Books Week Event hosted by Sheila at Book Journey -- if you haven't yet, stop by Sheila's blog and check out all the great posts that have already been submitted to this blogathon.
I'm finding this book a bit difficult to get through. Parts of it are tedious, although I believe this is a deliberate device on the part of the author, who obviously knows how to create well-crafted novel. You get caught up in one layer of Patrick Bateman's world, which is deliberately dull and shallow, then you turn a corner and -- holy shit! -- you find yourself in the middle of a scene so brutal you know it'll be seared in your mind forever.
When I'm finished with this book, I'll watch the movie adaptation of American Psycho. Egads, I am looking forward to this movie! For starters, I've been told it's much less violent than the book, which is good. I'm all for a whopping dose of gore now and again, but I don't think I could take all this agonizing brutality again. Second, there are such gloriously, ridiculously whack-a-doodle crazy characters in this story! Combine that with a great cast, and the movie can't possibly miss being insanely memorable.
After American Psycho, I plan to read Red Dragon by Thomas Harris -- then I'll be ready for the dueling monsters marathon hosted by the hosted by The Estella Society. Hannibal or Patrick? Which stark raving psycho-nut will I choose as the ultimate fictional psycho killer?
I've also been watching Luther -- I'm so bummed to be finished with Season 1! -- and checking out Queer as Folk.
Alas, due to our lack of cable access, I am one of about five die-hard Doctor Who fans in the universe who missed the season finale last night. I wonder if there's any place I can get it on streaming? I'm willing to pay.
Movies Watched This Week:
The Avengers - bad-ass superheroes courtesy of Joss Whedon
Oslo, August 31 - Norwegian film about a young man taking steps toward recovery from drug addiction
Posts This Week:
- Author Interview: David LeRoy on The Siren of Paris, a "Screenplay in Drag"
- Five Memorable Performances You Might Have Overlooked (Variation on Ruth's Blogathon)
- My Top 10 Films Based On Short Stories
- Review of Oslo, August 31 (Highly recommended -- 4.5/5 Stars)
Some Links to Check Out:
- If you haven't already, visit Ruth at FlixChatter and check out the Small Roles ... Big Performances Blogathon, highlighting magnificent supporting roles.
- Do you enjoy speculative fiction and fantasy? Would you like to step outside the European medieval paradigm, in the tradition of Lord of the Rings, and see fantasy worlds through the lens of different cultures? What about dystopian fiction seen from different cultural perspectives? Aarti at Book Lust hosted A More Diverse Universe, a blogathon in which readers reviewed speculative fiction by non-white authors. I learned about some intriguing new-to-me authors and added various titles to my wish list.
- I have a deep and abiding love for Doctor Who -- my second favorite sci-fi series after Firefly, a series whose life was cut short -- there is a special place in hell reserved for certain executives at Fox. :-P And last night marked the departure of my all time favorite companion, Rory Williams, played by Arthur Darville. Since I have no access to BBC America, I've been relying on the excellent reviews/recaps by Nikhat at Being Norma Jean and Edwin at A Mighty Fine Blog for my weekly Doctor Who fix.
- In anticipation of the newly released film The Master, Random Film Buff has had a Paul Thomas Anderson Marathon, reviewing Punch Drunk Love, Magnolia, and The Master. Although Magnolia is one of my favorite movies, I haven't seen anything else by this director. I may need to have an Anderson marathon of my own.
I watched American Psycho years ago and I remember it being disturbing and crazy too. I should read that book.
ReplyDeleteDid you watch Red Dragon? I was scared and nauseated so I don't think I could handle the book. Serial killers scare the heck outta me because they are actually real life monsters. When I read about serial killers I lose sleep.
Happy reading :)
I know exactly what you mean, Naida. :) You might want to pass on the novel American Psycho -- I hear it's much more disturbing than the movie.
DeleteI finished American Psycho on audio two weeks ago, Red Dragon last week, and watched American Psycho the movie version last night. I actually thought the movie did a great job of capturing what was important to Ellis, including certain phrases and explanations lifted right out of the book. It did have less violence overall, which was both a blessing and a curse because Bateman is a lot crazier in the book than in the movie and you need to counter that with the rest of the crazy characters.
ReplyDeleteAs for Red Dragon, what a joke. I definitely felt it was a poor excuse for a horror story. But that's just me. I'll be curious what others think.
I am intrigued by your comparison between the book and film versions of American Psycho. I'm looking forward to finishing the book and seeing the movie.
DeleteI threw the book of American Psycho across the room at one point. It seriously comes from a disturbed mind. It's hideous but also strangely compelling and very darkly funny in places. Still, I'm glad the film toned down the worst and sickest violence.
ReplyDelete"hideous but also strangely compelling and very darkly funny in places." That's a spot on description of this novel, Pete. And yes, I'm glad to hear much of the violence will be left out of the movie.
DeleteDon't feel bad. I have to wait for Doctor Who to come out on Netflix so I haven't seen this season at all yet.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain. :)
DeleteI actually don't mind brutal and disturbing as disturbing as that probably sounds lol but I haven't read American Psycho hmmm
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week Stephanie :)
Thanks. :-)
DeleteI thought certain parts of the book were tedious to better show how boring and cliche the lives of those rich guys are - everything is exactly the same for everyone of them - fiances, lovers, job, money. And then those explosions of violence - I thought they would be unbearable without Bateman's ridiculous narration, for example when he is so adamant where he lost someone's hand. I hope you'll like the movie!
ReplyDeleteGod, I miss Luther :(
Sati, I have the same opinion about the tedious parts of the book, which is why I said I thought this was deliberate on the part of the author. I think it also highlights how numb this character is to anything meaningful in life -- a disturbing foray into the psychopathic mind.
DeleteI miss Luther, too. *Sigh*
You read and watch some truly scary stuff! I'm pretty sure I wouldn't handle either well. I'm still recovering from the psychological scarring I took at the age of 12 when I read Thomas Tryon's The Other. Such a coward I am! Happy reading and viewing this week!
ReplyDeleteI remember reading Harvest Home (I think that's the title) by Thomas Tryon -- freaky stuff! :)
DeleteChristian Bale is great in American Psycho. Hope you like the film.
ReplyDeleteI should be seeing Oslo, August 31 later this week, so I'll be back to read your review.
I'm looking forward to the American Psycho film ... I think. The book is pretty traumatic. :)
DeleteI hope you like Oslo, August 31 as much as I did.
Thank You Stephanie! You're the best :)
ReplyDeleteIf the book American Psycho is more violent than the movie, I don't think I want to read it. You were very brave to read that novel!
Well, I haven't gotten through the whole book yet ... we'll see how brave I am. You're welcome for the link love. ;-)
DeleteThanks for the link love, Stephanie! Oh my, American Psycho the movie was too brutal for me, not sure I could handle the book. I somehow got the unrated version which of course is even more violent than the general version. Christian Bale was fantastic though, but man, I don't think I could watch that again.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure whether the copy I have is the unrated version or not. And yes, I doubt this is a movie I'd watch twice. I've been told the book is much more brutal than the film, so it I make it through the novel, I'm not too scared. ;-)
DeletePatrick. You'll def choose Patrick as the ultimate psycho killer. Not that I'm biased or anything. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi, Jill. :-) Recruiting for Team Bateman?
DeleteI've not read nor seen American Psycho.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book this week was Dr. Seuss: The Cat Behind the Hat by Caroline W. Smith. Please come see what I'm reading now.
That sounds interesting! I love Dr. Seuss.
DeleteThough personally not a fan of books that contain too much swearing let alone sex and violence it is my decision and my decision alone as to what I do and don't read - for anyone to make that decision on behalf of another is wrong.
ReplyDeleteExactly! You know what's right for you, and you can make intelligent choices for yourself.
DeleteI think I need to put American Psycho on my reading list. I've not even seen the film yet. But the reactions people get from the book alone... I am intrigued!
ReplyDeleteThis novel is definitely ... out there. :-) I'd be very interested to see what you think of the book and/or the movie.
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