Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
had to take breaks due to second hand mortification
like parasite: not 100% sure i'm rooting for the protagonist, but i'm stressed on his behalf
unexpectedly(?) funny b/c he's so bad at murder
funniest part was discovering tommy wiseau based his character in the room off of dickie greenleaf
like parasite: not 100% sure i'm rooting for the protagonist, but i'm stressed on his behalf
unexpectedly(?) funny b/c he's so bad at murder
funniest part was discovering tommy wiseau based his character in the room off of dickie greenleaf
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
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:
Yes
I enjoyed reading about this absolutely delusional psychopath so much
Great read
I knew the story well because I’ve seen the film adaptations: Purple Noon (1960) and The Talented Mr Ripley (1999). Both are great movies but the book is still well worth your time.
The book is written in a third person limited point of view where you are trapped in Tom Ripley’s head. Few books put you into the head of a psychopath so effectively. You feel his paranoia and mental calculations at every situation. The point of view is so close that it almost feels first person. This has to be the book that would be easiest to convert to another point of view on. You would just need to replace all of the “Tom” and “he”s with “me” and “I”s. No other changes would be needed. Highsmith was so smart to go with third person limited though, because it makes you feel trapped in Tom’s thoughts but Tom himself still feels alien and distant. If first person was used instead there would be a greater risk that you’d feel empathetic for Tom.
I knew the story well because I’ve seen the film adaptations: Purple Noon (1960) and The Talented Mr Ripley (1999). Both are great movies but the book is still well worth your time.
The book is written in a third person limited point of view where you are trapped in Tom Ripley’s head. Few books put you into the head of a psychopath so effectively. You feel his paranoia and mental calculations at every situation. The point of view is so close that it almost feels first person. This has to be the book that would be easiest to convert to another point of view on. You would just need to replace all of the “Tom” and “he”s with “me” and “I”s. No other changes would be needed. Highsmith was so smart to go with third person limited though, because it makes you feel trapped in Tom’s thoughts but Tom himself still feels alien and distant. If first person was used instead there would be a greater risk that you’d feel empathetic for Tom.
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book, especially the start. It was incredibly fast paced, easy to follow (besides the few italian sentences here-and-there), and Tom was somehow extremely likeable. I found myself scarily relating to some of Toms thoughts as well as his thinking process, though of course I could distance myself from his murderous rampage. His obsession with social class, wealth, and Dickie led him to the extreme. The feelings Ripley harbored for Dickie were fascinating to unravel: at times overwhelming in their intensity, at others suddenly dismissive, especially after Dickie’s death. The theme of homophobia is scattered around, and as Tom says after his crime, ‘Miles you’re a victim of your own dirty mind’. I didn’t expect sexuality to be a theme in this book, but I was so pleasantly surprised. It added another layer to Tom that aided in our empathy towards him- having to hide from peoples judgement. I also found that his disgust for women’s underwear could be interrupted in many ways, but I understood it as his inability to fully accept his sexuality- a rejection of objects that “should” arouse him but don’t. Overall, the ending was a bit anticlimactic and I really wanted more, however I’ve come to learn it was supposed to be this way. To show the reader that Mr Ripley is just an ordinary man who got away with murder. He may internally still be consumed with paranoia, worrying for every policeman he may come across, but externally he is composed and unassuming- and that is precisely where his talent lies. Talented Mr Ripley. I did really like this piece, and would definitely pick up another Ripley book!
medium-paced