One of the best books I've read in ages. It takes a little while to get going, but watch out after about 90 pages because it takes off like a rocket.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This is going off in a box of books that have been made into movies. Hope the next person enjoys it as much as me!

Taken from the bookbox

An enjoyable read. Thinking of laying my hands on other books by the same author.

Releasing into bookbox:

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/11037370/

I've been wanting to read this book for ages so I'm happy to get the chance! Taken from the bookbox.

I finally got to reading this one and I wasn't disappointed! Ripley is a strange but intriguing character and watching how his mind is working all the time makes it an interesting book. In a strange way I was sort of rooting for him to get away with everything as I never really took to Dickie and Marge! Good read and I'll be looking at other Ripley books.

Reserving this one for my wishlist rabck.

Sent as part of my Wishlist rabck. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for sending me this wishlist book. I think I've seen the film on TV but I can't remember anything much about it. I'm looking forward to reading this.

1001 book, but not at all literary. Well-written and a real page-turner.

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

My rating on Goodreads: 5 of 5 stars


Tom Ripley is an outsider who never quite feels he belongs nor that he will ever be able to achieve what he wants, or more to the point, deserves in life. Because Tom Ripley is the prototype of what is known as 'entitled' in today's parlance in the USA. If only life were fair, if only he'd been born into the right family, if only he could move in the right circles then he could get where he feels he deserves to belong. If he can't do it by hard work and friendship, then he'll do whatever it takes to get there, by fair means or foul.

The trouble with Tom Ripley is that he's a charmer when he wants to be and he makes a study of other people's weaknesses so that he can make himself indispensable, then take advantage of them to the full. Then one day it all becomes too much and he realises that there is one thing he could do to get what he wants and he doesn't hesitate. From that point there's no turning back. Once he realises how easy it is to do it once, he can do it again.

In real life, Tom Ripley would be a monster. In the book, he is often appealing, vulnerable, pathetic; you can't help feeling sympathy. But then the book is told from his point of view. It would have been interesting to know what Dickie Greenleaf really thought of him; we know about Marge's opinion of him.

As I saw the film first, I can't help seeing Matt Damon as Tom. I have just googled and am amused to see that Gwyneth Paltrow was cast as Dickie's "beautiful expatriate girlfriend" Marge. Not at all the image portrayed in the book!

As an expatriate myself, I noted this quotation:
"He felt as he imagined immigrants felt when they left everything behind them in some foreign country, left their friends and relations and their past mistakes, and sailed for America. A clean slate!" (p.31)
N.B. My slate did not need wiping clean!

I was very surprised to read the mentions of the G-string in a book written 1955. Turns out the word has been around far longer than that; in fact it was used in 1877!

Another thing that made me think twice was when Tom sees mouse holes in the hall by the elevator and it made me realise I've never seen one! Though we have certainly had mice in our house in the past; they made a nest underneath the plinth of the kitchen cupboards and squeezed through the tiny gap, not bothering with doors.

I didn't realise there were other books about Tom Ripley. I really enjoyed this so I'll be looking out for the other books in the series as well as other books by Patricia Highsmith.





View all my Goodreads reviews

Released at the annual BookCrossing event on the beach in Castricum, in the beach café Zoomers (that sounds like 's Zomers, summertime, in Dutch).

My standard release notes, to be edited later!

This book has been released as part of the following BookCrossing challenges:
- The Ultimate Challenge - read and release books, with extra points for a monthly theme
- Reduce Mount TBR (To Be Read) - read and release books on the TBR list since before the end of the previous year. My reading goal is 36 books per year.
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die Challenge. 2015 goal: 15. This is a 1001 list book.

Took this with me from the meeting. Who doesn't recognize this title? I now have to read this book and then watch the film. In that order. Looking forward to it.

Finished it and liked it. Will look out for other books in this series.

I've tagged VintageVanguard with it and it's now on its way to Germany. So sorry for adding to your MTBR :)

Arrived safely today! Thanks for the tag and the book :)