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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Therese is a very young woman who wants to be an artist but works at a shop. She meets Carol, who's a wealthy housewife and mother, maybe 15 years her senior. They have absolutely nothing in common, but most of the book dwells on Therese's infatuation with Carol.
Well...
On a personal note, I could relate to Therese through her process of finally understanding herself. You have crushes on your female teachers as a teen. You go out with boys/men even though it's extremely uninspiring for you (or you marry them, like Carol did). And then, one day, you meet a girl/woman and hey, wait a minute! Oh, that's what it was! It all starts to make sense.
However, that was the only level on which I was able to identify with the characters.
Through maybe 3/4 of the book,
True, after they had spent some time together (presumably getting to know each other), I found myself rooting for the success of their relationship. Still, the characters were too inconsistent, and their actions didn't make a lot of sense most of the time.
Now, on to what was great about the book.
It's amazing that this book was written in 1952, because it still resonates today. I don't know where you live but, in my country, Well, that's all very current. It all happens. Still. Everyday.
So, to summarize, I thought this was a good book, still very pertinent, but with inconsistent and not very likable characters. The movie made the love story into something more meaningful and true, and that's why it was more successful than the book.
Well...
On a personal note, I could relate to Therese through her process of finally understanding herself. You have crushes on your female teachers as a teen. You go out with boys/men even though it's extremely uninspiring for you (or you marry them, like Carol did). And then, one day, you meet a girl/woman and hey, wait a minute! Oh, that's what it was! It all starts to make sense.
However, that was the only level on which I was able to identify with the characters.
Through maybe 3/4 of the book,
Spoiler
Therese was this thing, this doormat, this object without any will or personality. It was painful to read. I found it very hard to believe someone her age and with her background could be so immature. What she claimed was love seemed to me to be nothing but a ridiculous infatuation for someone she'd only just met. And that Carol would pay any attention to her (while, in her turn, being annoyingly changeful and cruel) seemed even more incredible.True, after they had spent some time together (presumably getting to know each other), I found myself rooting for the success of their relationship. Still, the characters were too inconsistent, and their actions didn't make a lot of sense most of the time.
Now, on to what was great about the book.
It's amazing that this book was written in 1952, because it still resonates today. I don't know where you live but, in my country,
Spoiler
a parent's non-heterosexual orientation could cause them to lose custody of their child. Not being able to look at your significant other in a certain way when in public, being criticized by others for something that can't be helped and doesn't concern anyone...So, to summarize, I thought this was a good book, still very pertinent, but with inconsistent and not very likable characters. The movie made the love story into something more meaningful and true, and that's why it was more successful than the book.
emotional
reflective
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:
Complicated
slow-paced
one of those books that left me feeling empty (in a good way!) when I finished as I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the characters yet. I would love to read this again for the first time
there is no way i can rate this fr. ich will 5 sterne geben aber es gab zu viele sachen, die mich gestört haben, aber weniger als 5 zu geben fühlt sich falsch an und so ist das jetzt eben
There were times where this was difficult to read as a romance because Carol was so cruel and Therese was so young and naive but once the third act hit everything fell into place in a way where I was fully on board.
A love story and a Bildungsroman all in one. Therese starts out so unsure of herself and willing to take whatever anyone gives her but through her experiences with Carol, grows into her own self and matures in ways that feel earned. She stops being so self-conscious and develops a confidence in herself and her own work that was a joy to witness.
The roadtrip scenes were some of my favorite parts. The way middle America was described was so vivid and beautiful and it put us right in the middle of the world that Highsmith was writing in. For a woman who did not believe in love much she sure as hell understood it enough to write about the pain and obsession and heartbreak of it all.
4/5 stars. Very minor critiques - mostly with the way Carol treats Therese as this petulant child she doesn’t care much. It’s hard to see why Therese stands by (even though she’s so infatuated it’s hard to make sense of her).
A love story and a Bildungsroman all in one. Therese starts out so unsure of herself and willing to take whatever anyone gives her but through her experiences with Carol, grows into her own self and matures in ways that feel earned. She stops being so self-conscious and develops a confidence in herself and her own work that was a joy to witness.
The roadtrip scenes were some of my favorite parts. The way middle America was described was so vivid and beautiful and it put us right in the middle of the world that Highsmith was writing in. For a woman who did not believe in love much she sure as hell understood it enough to write about the pain and obsession and heartbreak of it all.
4/5 stars. Very minor critiques - mostly with the way Carol treats Therese as this petulant child she doesn’t care much. It’s hard to see why Therese stands by (even though she’s so infatuated it’s hard to make sense of her).