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Original poster

Would you let your 15 1/2 year old read American Psycho?

89 replies

HardRockOwl · 26/08/2022 17:35

I can't work out if I've had a flash of inspiration or not.

My DS won't read a book. I supply one in his rucksack as they're required to have them for daily reading and all he does is doodle in it/ fold pages / categorically not read it

No matter what genre, he won't look at it.

He likes horror films and he's mentioned the film American psycho to me a few times - I've said no to watching it for now as it's an 18 but I'm also sure he's watched a few 18 rated films

Anyway - I suddenly thought 'I bet if I put American Pyscho on his bag, he'll actually start reading it as he will be curious!' And I think this will be the case

But is it weird? Will the teachers be concerned? (Hes going into year 11 and is 16 in December) I mean, it's practically a modern classic isn't it?

WWYD? I'm in two minds

OP posts:
clarepetal · 26/08/2022 18:03

It's incredibly messed up. Not sure I'd recommend it, how about Catcher in The Rye? Good one about difficult teenage times

Doyoumind · 26/08/2022 18:01

I read the book when I wasn't that much older and found it horrific. But at least I got all the cultural references as I was of that time. I don't think he'll get it. I don't agree with the level of violence depicted either.

nicknamehelp · 26/08/2022 18:00

I don't think you can force reading my ds won't read (at high school would just carry a Harry Potter book as knew them so well from films he could bluff it if asked a qu) he some how without reading any of the books got a 6 in English lit and English language and is off to uni soon. Some people just don't read and forcing it won't help him find a love of it. My dd however is a bookworm like me.

dalisdrippingclock · 26/08/2022 17:58

It was suggested reading in DDs Yr12 English Lit class. Popular again at the moment due to lots of Memes.

Bobbins36 · 26/08/2022 17:58

Yes. It’s a horrific book but if they want to read, let them read. I read it at a similar age, it felt like one of those ‘cool’ books that you should. Hated it, but a with all good literature, it had an impact. Still ranks as one of my least favourite book but would still rather have read it and formed an opinion than not?

BeanieTeen · 26/08/2022 17:57

I think the film is fairly tame compared to the book. So it doesn’t really make sense to me that you say he can read it but not watch it. I’m not completely against a nearly 16 year old reading it if they’ve discovered it for themselves after building up a genuine interest in horror and thriller books but I think it is a bit of a weird way to entice a reluctant reader - and also weird for a mum to recommend a book involving detailed drawn out scenes of sadistic rape, torture and necrophilia to her son… although I know it’s with the best intentions 😄 I’d go for something else.

GingerAndLemonn · 26/08/2022 17:57

HardRockOwl · 26/08/2022 17:54

@GingerAndLemonn god that film!! I watched it aged 13 and I still remember how hideous it was

1 2 Freddy's coming for you

Haha I was obsessed! (I had very slack parents.)

Original poster
HardRockOwl · 26/08/2022 17:56

@TheBitchOfTheVicar I really would never want any teacher to have cause to wonder about my parenting so I think it's a no go

I'll have to think of something else that's got that shock factor, that 'grab factor' - and I've tried over the years!

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 26/08/2022 17:56

I wouldn’t but maybe the extreme violence against women in literature is something I’ve gone off more these dats

I did read it when younger, maybe 20s

I still remember some of it

Discovereads · 26/08/2022 17:55

Would the school allow a graphic novel? Like Maus?
I think a DC who hates reading isn’t going to read anything that is pure text.

Changechangychange · 26/08/2022 17:55

I wouldn’t - the film is played mostly for laughs, the book absolutely isn’t. If he isn’t a great reader, the “unreliable narrator” aspect may sail over his head.

Surely there is something he would like to read which doesn’t involve graphic descriptions of biting off a woman’s nipple? A manga or something? Non-fiction? A footballer or musician memoir?

TheBitchOfTheVicar · 26/08/2022 17:55

*indirectly

TheBitchOfTheVicar · 26/08/2022 17:55

I’m an English teacher. I read the book aged 26 and it gave me nightmares. Though the themes of the book do interest me and I’d be interested to discuss them.

if one of my tutees was reading this book ages 15, I’d probably swing by their desk a bit more often than usual, engage them in conversation about it focusing on themes, but I directly and I hope subtly checking they’re ok with the content. If I had no other reason for thinking there were any issues I’d leave it there (and hopefully have had an interesting conversation). There are students I have had in the past for whom this book would lead me to pass it on to the safeguarding lead so that they could decide

Original poster
HardRockOwl · 26/08/2022 17:54

@GingerAndLemonn god that film!! I watched it aged 13 and I still remember how hideous it was

1 2 Freddy's coming for you

OP posts:
GingerAndLemonn · 26/08/2022 17:53

I took nightmare on elm street as my reading book when I was much younger, about 10 and no calls to social services, my teacher thought it was hilarious! She did ask me to bring a different book though 😃

Original poster
HardRockOwl · 26/08/2022 17:52

@JustFlying ha not a troubled lad at all but blimey - I think it may be an eye opener.

OP posts:
Original poster
HardRockOwl · 26/08/2022 17:52

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie that's my worry. It would be be specifically for school as that's what he needs a book for and I really do not want any teacher to think I condone err killing people horrifically

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 26/08/2022 17:51

Stephen King a good call.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 26/08/2022 17:51

But he probably shouldn't take it into school imo, because it puts teachers in a difficult position.

Original poster
HardRockOwl · 26/08/2022 17:51

@GingerAndLemonn if you read my opening post, the school require him to have a reading book. They are supposed to read this book daily, when waiting for teachers to arrive to lessons from another site

So - no force from me. He has to have a book and I thought 'wouldn't it be nice for him to have something that might for once, grab him?'

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 26/08/2022 17:50

I'm an English teacher in Scotland so probably less uptight than my colleagues South of the border though.

Wtf is that supposed to mean?

OP - yes, let him read it. I'm an English teacher (South of the border) and think that at that age, censorship is a really silly idea.

JustFlying · 26/08/2022 17:49

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 26/08/2022 17:48

Tell him you won’t let him read it because it will scar him for life.

He will have finished it in a week.

Job done 😀

Yep 😄

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 26/08/2022 17:48

Tell him you won’t let him read it because it will scar him for life.

He will have finished it in a week.

Job done 😀

TheBitchOfTheVicar · 26/08/2022 17:47

I'm an English teacher in Scotland so probably less uptight than my colleagues South of the border though.

fuck off

GingerAndLemonn · 26/08/2022 17:47

But why? I’d he doesn’t like reading he doesn’t like reading. As long as he can actually read I don’t really see why you’re trying to force it on him