Book Debate Pt II: American Psycho
So my ‘What book will they use to teach about the 80s and 90s?’ question ended up getting picked up by Marginal Revolution and then made in the LA Times Book Blog – who for some reason, linked to him but not me. (and was discussed here, here and here.
The more I think about itAmerican Psycho is the only choice that works. Although the movie sucks and Patrick Bateman has sort of been embraced by exactly the sort of people that Ellis is criticizing, it has the one thing that all the other books have in common: a moral stance on the decades in question.
“I am weeping for myself, unable to find solace in any of this, crying out, sobbing “I just want to be loved,” cursing the earth and everything I have been taught: principles, distinctions, choices, morals, compromises, knowledge, unity prayer–all of it was wrong, without any final purpose. All it came down to was: die or adapt. I imagine my own vacant face, the disembodied voice coming from its mouth: These are terrible times.”
Bret Easton Ellis
“Ellis is, first and last, a moralist. Under the cover of his laconic voice, every word in his novels springs from grieving outrage at our spiritual condition.” – Los Angeles Times Book Review
I’m not sure there is a better choice in fiction than Ellis.
Awesome, it was cool to see this get so much coverage.
American Psycho has been on my list for a while, though this is pushing it up in priority. (Have to finish What Makes Sammy Run first, just got to it a couple days ago.)
You know what else is interesting about this choice is… I mean, look at the title. America really has dominated the world in those decades. Surely the book to define subsequent decades might be a bit more global.
Awesome, it was cool to see this get so much coverage.
American Psycho has been on my list for a while, though this is pushing it up in priority. (Have to finish What Makes Sammy Run first, just got to it a couple days ago.)
I would choose Bonfire of the Vanities before American Psycho. I liked American Psycho, but I thought it had little to say beyond what was already said in Bonfire. Besides, it belabors the point. While Bonfire’s Sherman McCoy develops into a sort of monster, just as Patrick Bateman does, McCoy’s transformation is far more nuanced and believable. Ellis does heavily–with shock–what Wolf is able to do subtly.
Incidentally, did you know that both Sherman McCoy and Patrick Bateman work at the same firm – Pierce and Pierce?
Also: I disagree. The movie was good.
I like the post, but I disagree about the movie: It was awesome. Of course, I have not read the book, so I am assuming it was one of those things where the book was better than the movie. Nevertheless, I think the movie stands on its own and is a classic.
From a student’s perspective, I would love to see American Psycho become required reading in classrooms. Having a Christian Bale movie made from it doesn’t hurt, since many teachers like to end a book study with a film based on the book.
But I have to agree with a few others who mentioned Bonfire of the Vanities. Even though for the sake of time it would probably have to be abridged for the classroom, it’s a book that should be read in its entirety. For an AP English class, that really shouldn’t be a problem. At four times the length of A Tale of Two Cities, Bonfire is still a funner and more engaging read than Dicken’s verbose prose allows.
American Psycho would definitely be a great choice of a book that discusses 1980s commodity culture, I’d throw Money by Martin Amis into the mix too – both great, intelligent and disorienting takes on the decade.