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

[HardRockOwl]

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

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

1 2 Freddy's coming for you

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

*indirectly

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?

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.

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

@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!

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

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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

@BeanieTeen when you put it like that .. I was thinking more the modern classic angle

Ok I'm going back to the drawing board on this one

Fuck off with your sad little stereotypes.

American Psycho has been used by schools as a sixth form coursework text. However, I don’t think it’s a great idea to use it just to try to shock your DS into reading. If one of my Year 11s was reading it in class, I’d definitely chat to them about their choice.

By 12 I'd read everything my parents had on the bookshelf, including Janet evanovich and jilly Cooper... I'd say let him read whatever he wants

I've always believed that books are pretty much self-censoring; the reader won't persist if the book is beyond their emotional or intellectual capacity.

Even so, American Psycho is a very hard read. The sexual violence is graphic and extreme and I'm not sure I'd want a teenager reading it without actually understanding the book. Mind you, he might struggle to get past the tedious descriptions of luxury products.

I'd be more inclined to recommend Jack Reacher.

No way - the book is seriously awful and far too graphic for a teenage boy. I had to stop reading towards the end as a grown woman because the explicit description of how he tortured two prostitutes, which included cutting the face off one and being able to see her teeth and the sinews of her jaw working as she gave another character oral sex in the hope he wouldn't kill her just too much.

It is so, so nasty - the violence is largely sexual against women who he then describes dismembering and putting in his freezer. Pages and pages of it.

I don't know that a teenage boy would be able to process it properly, as the sex is quite titillating and then turns gory. It's great writing from that perspective as it creates a peculiar feeling in the reader, but the film sanitises the sex and torture in comparison to what's on the page.

It's a vile book. It made me physically sick. I was so disgusted I chucked it in the bin.

Have you tried graphic novels (given his doodling). Huge variety of genres. DS loves them and is usually glued to one whereas he could take or leave a book of just text.

I read it younger than that, about 13, didn’t find it scarring. Mostly because it was so over the top that I couldn’t take it seriously. I’d say let him read it, I don’t think teachers would care

I think I'd blanked out a few of these very graphic descriptions so it's an absolute no!

I'm going to get him Pet Semetary or something and have done with it!

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross and that's what I'd be doing. Trying to grab his attention to actually read something - because he's supposed to at school. Not just message about and make paper planes out of the book pages!

I always supply a good book! He won't read any so I think I'd momentarily lost my senses for a moment there - I'll just do my usual and get him something mildly diverting

Im surprised at all these people saying go for it. As you know because you’ve read it yourself, it contains really detailed, explicit sexual violence against women. I don’t think it’s appropriate for a 15 year old especially at school.
Get him another book, whether he reads it or not as requested by the school is a matter between him and the school.