Scan barcode
pbraue13's review against another edition
2.0
Similar to the book I read on Jackie Susann this year, this biography, with all the authors access to diaries, books, etc. , the author is barely able to pierce and flesh out the human being it was talking about. It felt like the author was listing or reporting the face value facts. I did learn some new things, but the author didn’t make these facts exciting to learn. There was no poetry to the writing. He made Highsmith out to be a glum person all her life and while that may have been true I have read books about glum authors (I.e. Shirley Jackson) and the authors still managed to make their lives interesting and absorbing.
muninnherself's review
5.0
This is an extremely detailed and comprehensive biography - it's hard to imagine that Wilson has missed more than a fleeting thought from Highsmith, who helpfully kept copious notes about her state of mind as well as being a prolific correspondant. I've only read Carol, which is generally considered to be rather different from her other books (certainly the only one published under a pseudonym) but I exect I shall read Ripley at some point. A fascinating insight into a complex and troubled life. Her thoughts about the writing process are particularly interesting. It's quite a hefty tome but no wonder, as she worked hard, travelled a lot, and had an extremely busy love life.
More...