Reviews

Carol: The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith

morgainlafeye's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. a little addicting as you watch the characters develop and grow. I particularly enjoyed the end.

tricky's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 

Therese is a young woman struggling to find her place in relationships and career. She works as a sales clerk in a large department store to earn enough money to pursue her real love of set design. She is in a relationship with Richard, whilst he professes that she is the one, Theresa is indifferent and does not have the same strength of feelings. In the drudgery of selling dolls, Theresa serves Carol, a striking middle-aged woman, with whom is immediately enthralled with. Rather, than let this chance meeting pass by, Theresa sends Carol a card which elicits an invitation to lunch. The relationship between the two women evolves into love. A love that is forbidden and if exposed could result in ruin.

Where do I begin? Quite simply, Highsmith’s novel is an underrated American classic, it is not perfect but captures a time, character, societal norms and events that come to the page effortlessly. There is no lecturing, but you are shown how women wanting to be themselves were supressed by the expectations of society. When the two women meet, it is just not the attraction that draws you in but how each navigates the fledging romance.

Both women have controls placed on how they live. For Carol, it is the social conforms, the expectations of being a dutiful wife and mother. Further control is exerted by her ex-husband Harge by using their child as a bargaining chip in the divorce. One thing is clear that Carol is deeply unhappy. Theresa has Richard trying to control her by keeping her in a one-sided relationship. Even though, Theresa attempts to tell Richard that she does not love him, he refuses to believe her. His reasoning it that he is in love therefore so must she. These confines expand into what other believes

Carol’s interactions with Theresa are interesting, at times they come across as controlling and there is of course the age gap. Yet, you do wonder if Carol behaves in this manner not to control but to repel. That by being unpleasant she can drive Theresa and her feelings of love away.

Theresa is quite placid; she tends to go with the flow and never really has an opinion or direction of her own. Her backstory is delightfully rich and not what I expected. As we follow Theresa, we witness her slowly mature to know her own mind and to pursue what she really wants in life.

What I do appreciate is that everyone will have a view as to how a romance should be conducted. Highsmith has thrown that out and given us a complete mess of characters that are not sure of who or what they are. We go on that journey with them and watch as they stumble and fall but they arrive to where they want to be through a series of detours.

While it is ever so easy to get caught in the drama of the characters, Highsmith’s writing is just incredible with descriptions that succinctly capture the moment “The gray eyes regarded her directly now, and for the first time Therese faced them. There was a measure of humour in them, Therese saw. And what else? Curiosity and a challenge, too.”

Having read two of Highsmith’s previous works I was prepared for something special, but not this. It is a richly layered tapestry of flawed people all trying not to be lonely. 

elispike's review against another edition

5.0

I love this book with so much of a possessiveness

historyofjess's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Having really been taken by the film adaptation of this book, I wasn't sure what to expect, given that the movie had a strong emphasis on mood, tone and visual style. Well, I friggin' loved it. While the core story and characters are the same, there's just a lot more meat on the bone here. It's a lovely companion piece to the equally beautiful film. The book takes you far into Therese's queer awakening in an incredibly emotional and compelling way. And I loved that, while Carol is introduced as this gorgeous, enigmatic woman, she doesn't stay the dreamgirl throughout the novel, she's allowed to be a real person with flaws. It's also just gorgeously written. Truly, such a treat.

orangeburrito's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Is it just me or did Carol and Therese have no chemistry?
Whoever says the writing is great clearly isn't referring to the prose because please figure out writing rhythm, you don't need to describe every single mundane action (She bought one can. There was coffee in the thermos. She put the beer can on the floor.)
The ending was bittersweet, I was hoping Carol's terrible husband would get run over by a thirteen-wheeler before the divorce proceedings concluded but no such luck.
Despite its flaws I only read this book in 150-page sprints, as if out of morbid curiosity.

frandelaney's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this book felt like a rollercoaster, took me ages to get through as i found therese to be so unlikeable and childish at the start (forgetting that she was 19), that i just got in a slump with this the book. the past couple of days reading this though has been enchanting i loved reading therese’s character arc of change and becoming settled as a woman. her thoughts became more genuine and less obsessive. 
probably won’t read it again but it’s definitely a breath of fresh air to get a happy ending.

a_lin_a20's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

margardenlady's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

It's easy to see why this one is a cult classic. It's a stylish tale of forbidden love, dawning self awareness and bucking conventions. Carol meets Therese at a department store and a spark is ignited. Before long, the two are nearly inseparable companions, although their communities are unaware of their growing relationship. Then there is a road trip and some reckoning.

maddb_96's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I liked that it had a happy, or at least hopeful ending and I’m glad she realised quickly that Genevieve would never be the same as Carol but found it kind of weird that that was the moment when she realised she did truly love Carol. 

meaghuds's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0