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sibertooth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is an astonishingly good novel: suspenseful, psychologically acute, queasily engaging, and full of surprises even for those who have seen the film already. (Granted, I had last seen it more than ten years earlier, so YMMV.)
Since comparisons with the more famous movie are inevitable, I will say that book!Bruno is a broader, more grotesque character, but also somehow more relatable. The narrative, especially when it's in Guy's POV, tends toward the philosophical but seldom gets slow; the book is a unified whole.
This is the first Patricia Highsmith I've ever read, and I'm really looking forward to her other books.
Since comparisons with the more famous movie are inevitable, I will say that book!Bruno is a broader, more grotesque character, but also somehow more relatable. The narrative, especially when it's in Guy's POV, tends toward the philosophical but seldom gets slow; the book is a unified whole.
This is the first Patricia Highsmith I've ever read, and I'm really looking forward to her other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Alcohol, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Murder
Minor: Abortion, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Suicide, and Medical content
sarah984's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There were some interesting ideas here, with the way that the two men kind of orbited around each other, and the inevitability of their downfall. The premise and idea of the murders interested me as well, but both characters were so annoying and made such stupid post-murder decisions that it was hard to sustain interest for the length of the book. This might have fared better as a short story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Miscarriage and Racism
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