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libillibi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
colleen930's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
nekreader's review against another edition
4.0
I actually enjoyed this book more than The Talented Mr. Ripley because my reading of it was not colored by having seen the movie first. Another highly psychological novel with a deeply disturbed protagonist, this book draws you into a dark, dark world of delusion and insanity inhabited by flawed individuals, but nevertheless keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens next. It's a good car book - one that you can read while waiting for your child to finish a music lesson, dance class, orthodontist appointment, etc. Looking forward to sampling some more Highsmith.
lisbethssalamander's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
Probably a 3.5, but I rounded up. I enjoyed this one more than A Suspension of Mercy, but it was still a bit frustrating and repetitive in parts. Overall a good look inside of the mind of a man in love with a woman to the point of complete obsession and lack of ability to focus on anything else in his life except for her, despite the fact that their short romance ended years prior and she had gone on to marry another man.
Highsmith paints such a vivid picture of his fixation with Annabelle that I was legitimately disturbed by David's character while reading it. His desire to possess her is all-consuming, but he cares little about her as a person and ignores anything she actually says to him when they do speak and disregards her life circumstances while he builds a fantasy in his mind of the life he thinks they will have if she just lets it happen.
While that does lead to a pretty interesting story and there are some side characters who, for some reason, seem to want to spend time with David despite his increasingly insane behavior as time goes on, the plot begins to drag, and I began to get a bit impatient for it to wrap up about 2/3 in. The story had a satisfying ending as far as I felt, and this is one I would recommend.
Highsmith paints such a vivid picture of his fixation with Annabelle that I was legitimately disturbed by David's character while reading it. His desire to possess her is all-consuming, but he cares little about her as a person and ignores anything she actually says to him when they do speak and disregards her life circumstances while he builds a fantasy in his mind of the life he thinks they will have if she just lets it happen.
While that does lead to a pretty interesting story and there are some side characters who, for some reason, seem to want to spend time with David despite his increasingly insane behavior as time goes on, the plot begins to drag, and I began to get a bit impatient for it to wrap up about 2/3 in. The story had a satisfying ending as far as I felt, and this is one I would recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Stalking
ravenmount's review against another edition
dark
funny
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
4.75
rhiwills's review against another edition
3.0
No strong opinions, was fine. A bit repetitive but probably meant to be.