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andrewhatesham's review against another edition
dark
medium-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
3.25
Sometimes I find it hard to review classics and other old books because I'm not sure how to go about it — should I think of it solely through a modern lens, or should I put myself in the shoes of those who made the book a classic? That change in perspective can significantly affect my thoughts. Is this vaguely homophobic and forgettable, or is it riveting and bold?
I found roughly the first half of this book to be fast paced and gripping. I was drawn in by the mysterious main character, Mr. Tom Ripley, and the height of the plot was excitingly creepy, but that's where the problem lies. The interesting part happens less than halfway through the book! From then on, it's a trifling drag. Way too many details about every little decision the MC makes and how it may or may not affect him and his plans. I wish there was a bit more character development, or at least a little more focus on action rather than logistics.
In terms of purely personal taste, I disliked the European vacation settling. Too much coming and going from one place to another; it was hard for me to picture what each scene looked like and to really feel immersed.
This might have been a banger read back in the day, but I didn't find it to be anything special and I'm honestly not sure what modern readers like so much about it. I don't plan on picking up the next book in the series.
I found roughly the first half of this book to be fast paced and gripping. I was drawn in by the mysterious main character, Mr. Tom Ripley, and the height of the plot was excitingly creepy, but that's where the problem lies. The interesting part happens less than halfway through the book! From then on, it's a trifling drag. Way too many details about every little decision the MC makes and how it may or may not affect him and his plans. I wish there was a bit more character development, or at least a little more focus on action rather than logistics.
In terms of purely personal taste, I disliked the European vacation settling. Too much coming and going from one place to another; it was hard for me to picture what each scene looked like and to really feel immersed.
This might have been a banger read back in the day, but I didn't find it to be anything special and I'm honestly not sure what modern readers like so much about it. I don't plan on picking up the next book in the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Classism
kh11's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
ellius's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love our relatable, bisexual, murder king Tom Ripley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
_polaris_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-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
2.5
I really struggled with the book.
Tom Ripley is unbelievable unlovable as a Character. And I would go so far as to say that I almost don't know who he is. He is always putting on a mask to get what he wants.
The story switches in pace a lot. From long very slow (boring) passages ,to very fast and intense ones.
It can be very interesting but only in parts
Tom Ripley is unbelievable unlovable as a Character. And I would go so far as to say that I almost don't know who he is. He is always putting on a mask to get what he wants.
The story switches in pace a lot. From long very slow (boring) passages ,to very fast and intense ones.
It can be very interesting but only in parts
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Homophobia
antimony's review
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i looved this it was SO CRAZY. i impulsively got it at the thrift store bc i remembered listening to a video essay abt how saltburn plagarised the film adaptation of mr ripley and WHAT a good decisison that was. don't let my 4-days reading time fool you — i absolutely devoured this and wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as i did. i thought it would be 4 stars probably but was not anticipating 2 nights ago to have a DREAM about finishing it where i then complained abt the dream ending and made a goodreads tag called "unhinged" for it. it was SOO stressful watching tom make some of the decisions he made (the WILL??? HELLOOO???) and if i don't think about it i genuinely cannot believe he got away with all that but honestly if i take a minute i kinda get it. because with no reason to suspect it why would anyone in the world think he was insane enough to kill dickie and pretend to be him for 4 months?? his thought process is sooo crazy. anyway i was gaping for like half of this in part because of tom's insane thought process and decisions and in part because of the fact that being just a random guy in venice he could still get a house with SERVANTS for the modern day equivalent of $586/month HELLO? housing market take notes.
i finished this last night before bed so my phone was out of reach but there was a LOT i wanted to update goodreads about so i wrote those down and i'll add them here:
- pg 257: "If he'd only gotten his sight-seeing done all by himself, Tom thought, if he only hadn't been in such a hurry and so greedy, if he only hadn't misjudged the relationship between Dickie and Marge so stupidly, or had simply waited for them to separate of their own volition, then none of this would have happened, and he could have lived with Dickie for the rest of his like, travelled and lived and enjoyed living for the rest of his life! If he only hadn't put on Dickie's clothes that day—" this was kind of gay of him and i say that with love
- pg 258: what' crazy to me is that tom keeps doing this stuff like you'd think that by now he'd realize it isn't worth the risk. but no hesends out the fake will anyway. insane behavior.
- pg 268: THIS IS TOO CRAZYY. no way could this all ever work out nowadays.they aren't checking the fingerprints against ANY confirmed ones?? they're just like ya the suitcases and his apartment are the same so it was him... but maybe they think the apartment ones are confirmed. because they have no anyone has any reason to believe someone was pretending to be dickie for MONTHS
- pg 270: crazy that everyone believes tom that he and dickie were as close as he says like i KNOWWW dickie is rolling in his shallow water grave right now
- pg 271: why was this not so different from the ending i dreamt about where he sailed away with no repurcussions. CRAZY i still can't believehe got away with it all
my book also had the first chapter of book 2 at the end and i did write progress updates for those but i won't write them all out...i just have to say i cannot believe that this man married a woman he had a certain comfirmed bachelor je ne sais quoi
i finished this last night before bed so my phone was out of reach but there was a LOT i wanted to update goodreads about so i wrote those down and i'll add them here:
- pg 257: "If he'd only gotten his sight-seeing done all by himself, Tom thought, if he only hadn't been in such a hurry and so greedy, if he only hadn't misjudged the relationship between Dickie and Marge so stupidly, or had simply waited for them to separate of their own volition, then none of this would have happened, and he could have lived with Dickie for the rest of his like, travelled and lived and enjoyed living for the rest of his life! If he only hadn't put on Dickie's clothes that day—" this was kind of gay of him and i say that with love
- pg 258: what' crazy to me is that tom keeps doing this stuff like you'd think that by now he'd realize it isn't worth the risk. but no he
- pg 268: THIS IS TOO CRAZYY. no way could this all ever work out nowadays.
- pg 270: crazy that everyone believes tom that he and dickie were as close as he says like i KNOWWW dickie is rolling in his shallow water grave right now
- pg 271: why was this not so different from the ending i dreamt about where he sailed away with no repurcussions. CRAZY i still can't believe
my book also had the first chapter of book 2 at the end and i did write progress updates for those but i won't write them all out...i just have to say i cannot believe that this man married a woman he had a certain comfirmed bachelor je ne sais quoi
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia
there were a couple comments about marge that sorta were a little sexist but i'm not sure whether to tag it because it seems more Of The Time than intentionaltabear's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Homophobia
dsalazar's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Exactly like the show minus Caravaggio stuff. Well-written, not overly descriptive but just enough to set the scene, and the way his conflicting thoughts over his sexuality were written was well done. Enjoyed and would recommend for a quick read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Violence, and Murder
logopolis's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Homophobia
midsummerbri's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Murder
abijoupansy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child abuse and Homophobia
Minor: Classism