Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

17 reviews

naomipearl's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.5

I’m a sucker for books that detail European life and also books that dig into social interactions way beyond the dialogue. This book does both, narrating omnipotently but simultaneously from Tom’s point of view. I think that is the exact point, given the central theme of identity to the plot. While the scheme itself is dark and uncomfortable to readers, reading everything from Tom’s calculating, objective, introspecting perspective kept my attention the whole way through. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Suicide

jane_moriarty's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-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

5.0

re-read 2024: Good for him.

I love being so deeply immersed in someone's mind, and Patricia Highsmith is so good at letting me do just that. The Italy vibes are on point as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Homophobia, Blood, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

jay_hobday's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

wossyboy's review

adventurous dark lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.25

So good, so perfectly written. But so tense! I had to put it down at several points because I was too anxious. At other points I was flipping through the pages as fast as I can. Highsmith brilliantly changes pace to keep you on your toes and eek out the tension as long as possible.

I also really loved the romantic descriptions of Italy and Ripley's Italian life. It gave the book a sunny edge to what is otherwise quite a dark tale of death and deception.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder

neali's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Toxic friendship

womanwill's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Body shaming, Misogyny, and Blood

Minor: Suicide

emerynmader's review

dark mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship