Reviews

Carol by Patricia Highsmith

soldieroftheheart's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.5

The beginning was very good, first 20 pages. The ending was very good, last 20 pages. Every single moment in between was a fight to keep reading, the endless nothing of driving and stopping for coffee, the dialogues that were stilted or about nothing at all. It was impossible to really care about their relationship because it didn’t feel like they ever really had one, they barely spoke or knew each other at all. The whole book feels plot-less. I wouldn’t suggest it. That being said, the writer obviously has talent and there are several sections (in the beginning and end) that I highlighted. I get the feeling this could have been an amazing short story and it’s a shame that it wasn’t. 

dzandiria's review against another edition

5.0

The story follows the development of attraction into love between the two women Carol and Therese. Therese is a nineteen-year-old young woman working in a department store who has Richard, a young man who's transfixed by the sight of her and wants to marry her and set their journey to France. Carol is in the midst of a bitter divorce with her soon to be former husband Harge. Carol and Therese meet at Therese's job and begin to conversate and meet. With the divorce prevalent, Carol needs to get away from forceful Harge who's trying to restore their marriage. Carol, in due course, invites Therese and they set sail across the U.S. With the two women alone, their feelings and attraction towards each other develop. With Therese being so young, Carol mothers Therese. While being in hotels constantly, we begun to recognize just how much Therese is in love with Carol. The two women make love and that only elevates the desire between them. It's made clear Harge has sent an investigator to spy and take notes on the two women. The investigator has recorded the two women making love and the time stamps of when they've registered with hotels. It's sent to Harge and then sent to the lawyers that'll help the case of taking sole custody of Carol's and Harge's daughter, Rindy. Carol eventually makes her way back home, to help her case. IN the midst of everything going on, Carol informs Therese that she's made a promise to the lawyers that she'll no longer see Therese in return shell have supervised visitation with Rindy. The two women never denies their attraction towards each other. Therese too, will eventually make her way back to New York. Therese's first heartbreak, Carol has changed her. Both mentally and physically. Therese makes her own decision and has clearly grown. The two women eventually meet to return Carol's car and that's that. Will the two women make their way back to each other? You'll have to read to find out.

mybetzfriend's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

belwood303's review against another edition

4.0

Surprisingly timeless, why haven't I read this one before? 60 plus years after being published it is still relatable and a bit comforting. Historically speaking also significant.

mmilligan94's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

2.0

While I understand and appreciate the significance of the novel I found it tedious reading.  Therese and Carol are both exhausting and their relationship is exhausting.  Highsmith has a few splashes of elegant prose but for the most part it’s a slog.  There is no sweetness of first love, anguish of forbidden love, deepness of long lasting love.  It’s two boring red flag women in their boring red flag relationship.  There was too much angst for adult women that have known each other a few months.  

daphnesayshi's review against another edition

4.0

Generally I prefer reading a book before watching its adaptation, but in this case, I thoroughly enjoyed imagining my baes Rooney and Cate as I read on. heh.

loveangle's review against another edition

5.0

I was struck by Therese, how she didn’t feel vivid at all as a person, but what an interesting character she is. Carol calls her an angel flung out of space. She’s an orphan, a set designer who creates settings without living a “real life,” a girl who falls in love for the first time and becomes rearranged as a result. Even the road trip with Carol leaves her essentially stranded, she’s just wandering around the cities alone, living a very mundane, anonymous existence.

“And she did not have to ask if this were right, no one had to tell her, because this could not have been more right or perfect.”

“Or was it that she always wanted a little more than she had, no matter how much she had?”

The love affair with Carol is the only way she feels confident, which would be a disaster for anyone else as unsure and immature as Therese.

“…her usual mistrust of her own reactions, the anxiety that her reactions were like no one else’s…”

“Carol’s phrase 'come out' bad made her think of being born, and it embarrassed her. Yes, she had been born since she left Carol.”

Ugh it’s just so good.

jo_hoa's review against another edition

5.0

Classic. I love therese and carol and also cate blanchett

mollymisek's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.5

frozenheartv's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

4.5 stars 
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗 

🧠 My thoughts 

I was really happy that I decided to read the book after watching the movie. Both were very nice but the book had the privilege to dwell deeper into the psyche of the main characters so I got to understand more their behaviors and actions. I have tried to read many romance books but ended up DNFed most of them but this one stuck with me. Probably the reason was that the book was really about the romance itself, not lust or shallow affection. Their complicated relationships with each other were very intriguing to take a look into. It was very well-written. 

👍 What I like 

• Complex characters study
• Romantic and not shallow

👎 What I don't like

• Sometimes some parts feel a bit lengthy