Wednesday, March 24, 2010

"The Talented Mr. Ripley" by Patricia Highsmith


How does Tom manage to get away with everyting? Is it because he is smart and quick-thinking or does he have a certain amount of luck?


For an interview with Patricia Highsmith, check out:




For a review of the newly released biography about Patricia Highsmith entitled "The Talented Miss Highsmith: the Secret Life and Serious Art of Patricia Highsmith" by Joan Schenkar, check out:




For an audio interview with Patricia Highsmith and Don Swaim, check out:


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Reading this fast moving, suspenseful Crime Novel was an unexpected pleasure. Although I should have immensely disliked the main character of this book, I did not. I found him extremely interesting. I was thoroughly entertained by Thomas Ripley, a two-time murderer.

This so-called friend to Dickie Greenleaf was mentally and totally disturbed. Within a very short time, Tom's mood could swing from flamboyant to absolutely awful, from depressing to exciting.

Have we not met people like Tom on our own path of life? Not only are we willing to forgive them of their mood swings, but we actually try to humor them).

Tom may have come into money after he killed Dickie Greenleaf, and may have even escaped the law. But I don't think he was able to outrun his crimes or himself. I believe that Tom was never able to relax and feel completely comfortable anywhere for any length of time. I picture him living as a nomad, forever on the run.

Anonymous said...

"Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!"

"The Talented Mr. Ripley" was very good writing by the author. The writing was so good that if I was Ms. Highsmith's neighbor and had read any of her books, I wouldn't want her as a friend. I would be looking over my shoulder too much. The author was too adept at the devious and cunning actions of Ripley.

The character Ripley seemed to enjoy "the chase" which we read at the very beginning of the story, however we don't learn what he believes the police are after him for. We can make a good guess!!!

The story line is predictable (after Mr. Greenleaf employs him) especially when we read about his thoughts. He meets Dickie and starts immediately measuring him up for height, weight, hair color, etc.

I wonder if Ms. Highsmith ever got away with murder before she died?? She built the mind of a murderer very well! You never know!

Her character Ripley wove a web of perfection. Sociopath comes to mind as I think of him and more than once thinks to himself that the victims were the cause of their own demise.

I hope he gets clobbered in the next or last story.