Reviews

Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith

lbolesta's review against another edition

2.0

A lot more Crime & Punishmenty than I expected.

indraneu's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

3.75

sunnydaysandairwaves's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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? Yes

3.0

peyton_honeck's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

abookishtype's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book before that made me want to shower after reading in quite the way that Strangers on a Train, by Patricia Highsmith, did. Everything about this book is designed to make one feel, somehow, stained in the way that protagonist Guy Haines is after he meets Charles Anthony Bruno. The catharsis at the end of the novel arrives with a sense of soap and hot water...

Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. 

iancarpenter's review against another edition

2.0

What was sublime in The Talented Mr. Ripley is here far too simple and slow. We know what's going to happen from about page 60 and then it marches on, predictably, slowly and I suppose realistically. None of the great characters and mystery and fascination of Ripley for me.

cedarxwing's review

5.0

This is an iconic queer novel and gave me the gay rep I need in 2021.

shuheda's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

nbarton82's review against another edition

3.0

An intriguing premise and gorgeous, gorgeous writing, but loses:

- 1 star for being way too long and slow after Guy's murdering Bruno's father

- Another star for the insurmountable failure of logic: Why exactly does Bruno have Guy trapped after he murders Miriam? Guy didn't ask him to, didn't aid him, didn't pay him, made every effort to spurn and avoid him... what exactly did Bruno have on this guy that he felt cornered into committing a murder? Bruno was an alcoholic headcase - just turn him in to the cops and have done with it.

vanya_vatsal's review against another edition

1.0

DNF. Maybe it was interesting in the times it was written, now it's not the least bit. I tried to finish, trust me I did. But. Just. Couldn't.

Edit: Watched the movie. Didn't like that too. I guess this story just wasn't my cup of tea.