Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 9, 2012. Matt Damon was likable as Ripley. The novel moved quickly and kept me interested throughout, even though I knew a lot of what would happen based on the movie. We are immersed into the mind of a schemer who becomes darker with each step. A true classic, Highsmith is masterful, her characters interesting and plot twists well executed. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the Enter key is pressed. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. It made the city human. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! "Tom Ripley is one of the most interesting characters in world literature." It is mostly like the movie, and there are some changes. June 17th 2008 I clipped through the last pages at work tonite, hungry to know! ), but an anxious one. I plan to read the two sequels as a result. Please try again. Start by marking “The Talented Mr. Ripley (Ripley, #1)” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Christie’s crown as the Queen of Crime is safely in place. ―Anthony Minghella, director of the 1999 film The Talented Mr. Ripley. Patricia Highsmith was an American novelist who is known mainly for her psychological crime thrillers which have led to more than two dozen film adaptations over the years. This story requires a tolerance for unlikable characters, as Tom is a violent, manipulating, pathological liar. For one, I think this is the first time I will ever say the following words. No, I don't know what white roses "means"- pick a damn meaning and be gone!) Including that the actors who portrayed their film versions were so very handsome. But does he want to be Dickie Greenleaf enough to kill his new friend? The father of a “friend” makes him an offer to go to Italy to bring the father’s son back to America. I was able to pick up some pointers if I ever sink low enough to do what Tom Ripley did, but I doubt that will ever happen. The Talented Mr. Ripley Publisher's Summary Since his debut in 1955, Tom Ripley has evolved into the ultimate bad boy sociopath, influencing countless novelists and filmmakers. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. and how it was portrayed in the book vs movie and how differently that might happen today if the book was written again, but that is too complicated and time-requiring for an amazon book review. I haven't read anything by Patricia Highsmith before, so I don't know if this is overall typical of her style but it is kind of an eccentric read - like reading a murder mystery totally from the POV of the criminal who is completely honest and unrepentant to the reader. In this first novel, we are introduced to suave, handsome Tom Ripley: a young striver, newly arrived in the heady world of Manhattan in the 1950s. THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY; RIPLEY UNDER GROUND; RIPLEY'S GAME. To see what your friends thought of this book. The only thing that stands in the way of Tom having the life of Richard, is Richard. The Talented Mr. Ripley was the first of five books in the character’s adventures, followed by Ripley Under Ground, Ripley’s Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley, and Ripley Under Water. New York: Coward-McCann, 1955. This one didn't work for me at all. ), Great example of a 1950s crime novel and analysis of a complicated character, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 8, 2010. And then there's Tom Ripley. Want to … He is a talented young man with ambition and very little else. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 17, 2020. (Worth noting that the French film version of the book, Plein Soleil, starring Alain Delon, is far superior to the Hollywood version with Matt Damon. Tom Ripley is all the more horrifying because of his total lack of empathy; someone who has looked into the abyss and thinks nothing of pushing others into it while laughing. This is probably one of Highsmith's most impressive and tightly plotted works and the characters are some of her best and most developed. Every compliment or comment I recieved was questioned and then double questioned, as I toyed with the possibilities of varying double entendres and potential meanings as to my occupational/ social demise... what or how or why, I don't know. I was able to pick up some pointers if I ever sink low enough to do what Tom Ripley did, but I doubt that will ever happen. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. Do we need to read Ripliad series in order or shall we read any book for the series ? I could not put this book down. The father of a “friend” makes him an offer to go to Italy to bring the father’s son back to America. I am glad they chose Matt Damon instead of Tom Cruise for the role of Ripley. Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2019. Maybe Dorian Gray? In this first novel, we are introduced to suave, handsome Tom Ripley: a young striver, newly arrived in the heady world of Manhattan in the 1950s. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2019, The Talented Mr. Ripley is wonderfully written and gripping. At times sharply observant and other times careless, sometimes conscientious but other times coldly homicidal, Tom Ripley the con man both charms and creeps people out throughout the novel. The film that stars Matt Damon follows the book closely, something rare with adaptations! Highsmith's protagonist is Tom Ripley. I was surprised at how brilliantly the psychopathic mind was captured in this novel. Tom is easily persuaded, by the offer of excellent expenses, to go to Mongibello to try and persuade Richard to return. Edgy. I plan to read the two sequels as a result. The Talented Mr. Ripley, Patricia Highsmith. “One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for 1,000 years. desperate to hold hands with Tom Reeepley as he navigated his way through layer after layer of lie upon lie upon psychopathology! Luckily, I read this after having seen the film over a decade ago, because had I read the book first I'd have no desire to watch the film, and that would have been a sad thing. First edition of the author’s first book in her acclaimed Ripley series. He is also very, very, gifted at forgery. What a creepy little book. This book got under my skin. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Or because we want him to get away with it? Everyman's Library/Alfred A. Knopf. Written over 50 years ago, Patricia created a unique character whose character arc is the opposite of what is traditional. Here, in the first Ripley novel, we are introduced to suave Tom Ripley, a young striver, newly arrived in the heady world of Manhattan. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. We are immersed into the mind of a schemer who becomes darker with each step. Written over 50 years ago, Patricia created a unique character whose character arc is the opposite of what is traditional. Since his debut in 1955, Tom Ripley has evolved into the ultimate bad boy sociopath. —Anthony Minghella, director of the 1999 film The Talented Mr. Ripley. I found this story an outstanding example of creepy crime fiction. Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2019. Like the best modernist fiction, Ripley works on two levels. An obsession blooms and Tom finds himself wanting to be Dickie Greenleaf. One of the great crime novels of the 20th century, Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley is a blend of the narrative subtlety of Henry James and the self-reflexive irony of Vladimir Nabokov. The movie adaptation is far more powerful than the book. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. if you're interested in the longer post I've made, you can read it at my, This one didn't work for me at all. Edith’s Diary. Richard Greenleaf has everything that Tom could ever want. take a chance for Christ's sake! A dark reworking of Henry James's The Ambassadors, The Talented Mr. Ripley serves as an unforgettable introduction to this smooth confidence man, whose talent for murder and self-invention is chronicled in four subsequent Ripley novels. This classic novel of suspense lives up to the hype. I thought all the charcters were insufferable which made it very hard for me to enjoy the book. The Talented Mr. Ripley / Ripley Under Ground / Ripley's Game. The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game (Everyman's Library), Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta: Celebrated California Bandit (Volume 4) (The Western Frontier Library Series), Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave: Written by Himself, Twelfth Night (Folger Shakespeare Library), "In the same way that Vince Gilligan made. In the same way I should feel repulsed by my attraction to Zac Efron in his portrayal of Ted Bundy, I should probably feel repulsed by my attraction to Tom Ripley. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Highsmith wrote five novels throughout four decades focusing on Tom Ripley in a series known as "the Ripliad": The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Underground, Ripley's Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley and Ripley Under Water. Tom Ripley is a fictional character in a series of crime novels by Patricia Highsmith, as well as several film adaptations. Decent plot. So cool, so dark, this is one of those books that can be rushed through for the surface story of the suave psychopath, Tom Ripley, and his iconic encounter with poor little rich boy, Dickie Greenleaf (green leaf, ha!) I've been dabbling in some of the classic thriller writers. But, there really is no comparison. The book is so much better than the movie. A dark reworking of Henry James's. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. pick out your own damn flowers! I found myself irked at customers who disturbed my reading, mid-paragraph (inconsiderate indecisive patronizing people! This was my first book by The Talented Ms. Highsmith, and I fully appreciate her skills and reputation. His character made for a much more interesting and emotional ending. I doubt that I will ever like another antiheroe as much as Tom Ripley. W. W. Norton & Company; Reprint edition (June 17, 2008). The writing is deceptively simple and tells the story with a quickness in pace and clarity that is admirable. Tom Ripley is the creation of author Patricia Highsmith and appeared in five novels - AKA the Ripliad - between 1995 and 1991. ―Anthony Minghella, director of the 1999 film The Talented Mr. Ripley Since his debut in 1955, Tom Ripley has evolved into the ultimate bad boy sociopath. However, I was so disappointed with "Ripley Under Water" that I donated my hardcover copy to the public library. I have heard the other books after this are not as good. This story requires a tolerance for unlikable characters, as Tom is a violent, manipulating, pathological liar who is lacking self esteem. $26. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. I'm giving this novel 5 big stars because while I was reading I was not in my apartment trying to isolate from Covid-19, but in Italy involved in all sorts of crime and deception and trying to stay one step ahead of suspicious friends and the police. I am a New Englander, so, to a degree, feeling bad about all I am not doing all I could be etc is normal, but this?