heritage's review against another edition
3.0
An amateur art collector raises questions about a possible art-forgery scheme of which Tom Ripley happens to be the mastermind and partial beneficiary. That leaves Mr. Ripley with only one course of action, but his solution gets a little complicated.
This is the second novel in Patricia Highsmith's Ripliad, a series of five novels featuring the casual murderer Tom Ripley. Unfortunately, this novel has a lot of overt explaining in its narrative, which is a no-no for me. Both the back-story at the beginning and Ripley's cover at the end are heavy-handed in this regard. As well, Ripley's wife, Heloise, is a little too thinly presented to make her acceptance of his actions believable.
It's too bad Highsmith made these choices as she has one of the best narrative voices for wide audiences. I often hold her up as an example of what I expect at a minimum from a decent writer.
For those who do decide to read Highsmith's Tom Ripley novels, read this one before Ripley Under Water, as that one is a sequel-of-sorts to this one.
This is the second novel in Patricia Highsmith's Ripliad, a series of five novels featuring the casual murderer Tom Ripley. Unfortunately, this novel has a lot of overt explaining in its narrative, which is a no-no for me. Both the back-story at the beginning and Ripley's cover at the end are heavy-handed in this regard. As well, Ripley's wife, Heloise, is a little too thinly presented to make her acceptance of his actions believable.
It's too bad Highsmith made these choices as she has one of the best narrative voices for wide audiences. I often hold her up as an example of what I expect at a minimum from a decent writer.
For those who do decide to read Highsmith's Tom Ripley novels, read this one before Ripley Under Water, as that one is a sequel-of-sorts to this one.
annainthebooks's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
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
2.0
meh_10's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
mslaura's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
jimmypat's review against another edition
3.0
I was not expecting that I would describe the second Tom Ripley novel as "delightful", but it is. This book has an almost comic flair as Tom murders (again!) and then his house of cards comes falling down on him. I was really enjoying the book and wondering how Highsmith was going to possibly get Tom out of this mess, but in the last fourth the book loses steam and ends abruptly. I was unconvinced by the resolution and slightly confused. This won't stop me from proceeding to the next book, but my expectations have been tempered somewhat.
lapetiteprincess's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katymvt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.5
quinndm's review against another edition
3.0
Tom Ripley continues enjoying the life he built from two murders. And, it isn't long before his world starts closing-in around him and he has to find a way out... again.
Patricia Highsmith excels at creating a claustrophobic atmosphere in her writing as we, the readers, try and understand Tom while also trying to aid him in his crimes. When something goes wrong, our minds immediately start racing ahead; searching for possible excuses and explanations and escapes.
By reading this series, we slowly start becoming Tom Ripley.
(This series also acts as a great European tour guide --- every place that Tom visits and experiences is so vividly written; from France, to London, to Belgium).
Patricia Highsmith excels at creating a claustrophobic atmosphere in her writing as we, the readers, try and understand Tom while also trying to aid him in his crimes. When something goes wrong, our minds immediately start racing ahead; searching for possible excuses and explanations and escapes.
By reading this series, we slowly start becoming Tom Ripley.
(This series also acts as a great European tour guide --- every place that Tom visits and experiences is so vividly written; from France, to London, to Belgium).