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elwirax's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
The novel successfully presents the complexities and flaws of its main characters: Carol, a strong and autonomous woman dealing with divorce and maintaining custody of her daughter, and Therese, a young woman trying to find her place in the world.
Nevertheless, none of these characters were particularly likable. Carol's relationship with motherhood was complicated. While her actions can be viewed as an empowering rejection of the notion that women must prioritise motherhood, they can also be seen as neglectful, as she risks losing custody of her daughter over a relationship that lacks true substance. She was cold, and her narrative was often stunted.
Therese, for much of the novel, is very passive and relies on Carol for guidance. This dynamic emphasises the considerable age gap between them, with Therese being 19 and Carol in her early 30s. Though we get to see Therese's independence explored toward the end of the novel, it is brief.
I cannot help but view their relationship as teenage infatuation rather than a true romance. However, much of this lack of genuine connection can be attributed to the time period in which it was written.
I found the middle part of the novel, particularly the road trip, to be meandering but necessary for Therese's character growth. The writing was, at times, very poignant, and I enjoyed Highsmith's descriptions of seemingly unimportant details, which grounded the story.
Overall, the book was enjoyable enough and deserving of merit as an early classic in lesbian literature. Dare I say, though, that the movie was slightly better?
Moderate: Stalking and Lesbophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
emadisonc's review against another edition
- 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
It would be Carol, in a thousand cities, a thousand houses, in foreign lands where they would go together, in heaven and in hell.
Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
priceofsalt's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
pencilspeaker's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
chaya_v's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was a very testing read. I loved their relationship and hated it at the same time. Carol’s attitude towards Therese was at times inexplicable to me. But looking at the bigger picture and the book as a whole, it feels different. And Therese’s hyperfixation on Carol was also so well-written and conveyed. I didn’t like how she were pitting herself against Carol’s daughter, or even that she find any fault in Carol thinking of Rindy first, before her relationship.
I’d also love to read this story from Carol’s perspective.
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Update I watched the movie. The cast was perfect, the movie conveyed the exact feeling of the book, even taking over some of the dialogue. I’m in love. Will be my favourite movie for a while probably.
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Re-read 29/12/2022
This book is so beautiful and even more I think once you’ve already read it once and know why Carol and Therese are acting in a certain way.
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
mysimas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Maybe it was me, maybe it was the book, but the prose, although beautiful, sometimes confused me. A lot of the first half was also kind of a blur for me, most scenes didn’t really stand out or apart, though I felt quite charmed by the overall feel.
Therese’s growth was beautiful to witness and reminiscent of aforementioned Maurice or even Pride and Prejudice. Carol did some growing of her own, too, and she was one of the more convincing love interests I’ve encountered in fiction.
Definitely a book I would like to reread, this time carefully looking for the paralels as well as the uncanny synchronicity of thought that Carol and Therese seemed to display at times.
Last but not least, shoutout to the worst line ever and the pretty great one that followed right after:
The milk seemed to taste of bone and blood, of warm flesh, or hair, saltless as chalk yet alive as a growing embryo.
It was hot through and through to the bottom of the cup, and Therese drank it down, as people in fairy tales drink the potion that will transform, or the unsuspecting warrior the cup that will kill.
(Seriously, I almost wept at the contrast.)
Graphic: Homophobia and Abandonment
Moderate: Fatphobia and Stalking
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
To explain my warnings a little: Abandonment — relates to Therese’s childhood history which later resonates with the events of the book. Homophobia — a characteristic of the society at the time, some of the characters display hate. Carol and Therese do not suffer from prominent internalized homophobia. Fatphobia — occurs mostly in the first half of the book. Could be argued for as a characteristic of Therese’s, from which she eventually starts to grow. Stalking — does not happen between Carol and Therese, or in a romantic context, and is not portrayed as a good thing. Suicidal thoughts — a very brief reflection of Therese’s that spans all of two lines.vinhotinto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Lesbophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
conniebrown's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Homophobia and Misogyny
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
deliciousgrapes's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
edit: WARNING!! THE SPOILER FEATURE IS NOT WORKING FOR THE TEXT BELOW AND BIG SPOILERS ARE MENTIONED!! ALL TEXT BELOW THIS IS A SPOILER!!
Minor: Suicidal thoughts