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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
read: feb 2024
reviewed: apr 2025
a long gap between a read and a review as usual. took me a while to parse out how i felt about this book. it's somehow so banal but so tender at the same time, the mundanity of therese's life contrasted with the wonderful turmoil of a relationship she has with carol. there's some really stunning prose here too;
reviewed: apr 2025
a long gap between a read and a review as usual. took me a while to parse out how i felt about this book. it's somehow so banal but so tender at the same time, the mundanity of therese's life contrasted with the wonderful turmoil of a relationship she has with carol. there's some really stunning prose here too;
Every human action seemed to yield a magic. January was a two-faced month, jangling like jester's bells, crackling like snow crust, pure as any beginning, grim as an old man, mysteriously familiar yet unknown, like a word one can almost but not quite define.
this wasn't quite my type of book, but nevertheless i still really appreciated the story it told. i'm glad it also didn't fall into the age-old trope of the queer characters dying/ending up in total tragedy, despite the horrible situation they end up in. carol and therese's relationship ends on an uncertain note that doesn't quite provide closure, yet still gives off the sense that everything will be alright between them, even as other people (god i hated carol's husband) try to break them.
all in all. this was a nice addition to my growing log of queer classics. i look forward to reading more of highsmith's works (especially as mr ripley definitely seems more up my alley).
all in all. this was a nice addition to my growing log of queer classics. i look forward to reading more of highsmith's works (especially as mr ripley definitely seems more up my alley).
What was it to love someone, what was love exactly, and why did it end or not end? Those were the real questions, and who could answer them?
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the first half is hard to get through. the last half is amazing. i saved some quotes as i read
it’s also important to take it for what it is and when it was written. the fact that it was published in 1952 and no one died or ended up with a man is amazing. and the fact theres a baby happy ending even if it’s not that happy for carol
pg 131, “I don’t want to die yet without knowing you. Do you feel the same way, Carol?”
pg 164, “How about a jacket? Would you like a tweed jacket?”
Therese was sitting on the edge of the fountain, one hand pressed against her ear because it was aching from the cold. “I don’t particularly need one,” she said.
“But I’d particularly like to see you in one.”
pg 189, “Happiness was like a green vine spreading through her, stretching fine tendrils, bearing flowers through her flesh. She had a vision of a pale white flower, shimmering as if seen in darkness, or through water. Why did people talk of heaven, she wondered.”
pg 190, “My angel,” Carol said. “Flung out of space.”
pg 198, “No. Is it anything to talk about? Is it anything to be proud of?”
“Is it anything to be ashamed of?”
“Yes. You know that, don’t you?” Carol asked in her even, distinct voice. “In the eyes of the world it’s an abomination.”
pg 209, “How was it possible to be afraid and in love, Therese thought. The two things did not go together.”
pg 255, “I say I love you always, the person you are and the person you will become. I would say it in court if it would mean anything to those people or possibly change anything, because those are not the words I’m afraid of.”
it’s also important to take it for what it is and when it was written. the fact that it was published in 1952 and no one died or ended up with a man is amazing. and the fact theres a baby happy ending even if it’s not that happy for carol
pg 131, “I don’t want to die yet without knowing you. Do you feel the same way, Carol?”
pg 164, “How about a jacket? Would you like a tweed jacket?”
Therese was sitting on the edge of the fountain, one hand pressed against her ear because it was aching from the cold. “I don’t particularly need one,” she said.
“But I’d particularly like to see you in one.”
pg 189, “Happiness was like a green vine spreading through her, stretching fine tendrils, bearing flowers through her flesh. She had a vision of a pale white flower, shimmering as if seen in darkness, or through water. Why did people talk of heaven, she wondered.”
pg 190, “My angel,” Carol said. “Flung out of space.”
pg 198, “No. Is it anything to talk about? Is it anything to be proud of?”
“Is it anything to be ashamed of?”
“Yes. You know that, don’t you?” Carol asked in her even, distinct voice. “In the eyes of the world it’s an abomination.”
pg 209, “How was it possible to be afraid and in love, Therese thought. The two things did not go together.”
pg 255, “I say I love you always, the person you are and the person you will become. I would say it in court if it would mean anything to those people or possibly change anything, because those are not the words I’m afraid of.”
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't like this book, at first, and it took me a while to get through. It's was like reading the most boring parts of a Hemingway or Fitzgerald novel. But this is a classic piece of lesbian fiction for a reason, and I'm glad I read it. The characters do eventually come to life, and I felt like the ending fit.
It's hard to rate this book, because I didn't totally enjoy it, but I think it's remarkable, and I think it's an important work of both historical and queer lit. I would call it almost Gatsby-esque.
It's hard to rate this book, because I didn't totally enjoy it, but I think it's remarkable, and I think it's an important work of both historical and queer lit. I would call it almost Gatsby-esque.
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
didn't feel like reading a book from the 50s. captured the yearning better than so many other books. also not very much homophobia? like yes that's part of the main plot but also they still generally get to have a good time
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not the first or the last time I will read this book, absolutely beautiful!
medium-paced
It had a happy ending?!?!
I enjoyed a lot of it- didn’t agree with some parts, but that’s ok! It definitely challenged what I thought would happen!
I enjoyed a lot of it- didn’t agree with some parts, but that’s ok! It definitely challenged what I thought would happen!