A review by kari_f
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

dark
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0


“His stories were good because he imagined them intensely, so intensely that he came to believe them.”

This is a book I’ve been wanting to read for a long time, and I’m glad I finally did! I can see why it’s considered a classic and why there have been multiple screen adaptations made, and I’m excited to track them down to see how they compare!

I enjoy the occasional book where the protagonist is a nuanced villain, and Tom made for an excellent case study! While it’s clear to the reader that he’s a manipulative sociopath, he’s also charming enough that I found myself wondering how Highsmith had me wavering in what I wanted his conclusion to be. (Let me clarify that in a real life situation, there would be no question… but in this literary world, part of me was hoping he’d get away with everything in the end.)

Saying much more might give away spoilers,  so I’ll just say that this book left me with a lot to think about! 
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