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The Talented Mr. Ripley (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard)

by Phyllis Nagy

Like a hero in a latter-day Henry James novel, Tom Ripley travels to Italy with a commission to coax a prodigal young American back to his wealthy father. But Ripley finds himself very fond of Dickie Greenleaf. He wants to be like him--exactly like him. Turning the mystery form inside out, Highsmith shows the terrifying abilities afforded to a man unhindered by the concept of evil. (read review)

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Christina F
  • Rated 5 stars

Absolutely loved this book. Fascinating and terrifying and incredibly well written. I need to reread it to determine whether it deserves favorite status.

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May Suzette: Me, My Shelf & I
  • Rated 2 stars

I think the movie was better. Ha.

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  • Rated 3.912281 stars
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  • Rated 4.5 stars
 

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  • pbrass

    pbrass said:

    I, somewhat, was inspired by Highsmith, when I wrote my own novel The Harvest, and saw Chris Turner as a Ripleyesque character. I guess other authors have done this, but I am indebted to her. From what I have heard, she was an impossible character in her own right—hard drinking, impossibly forthright in her prejudices, but also quite open about her lesbianism at a time when that just did not happen. It is interesting to me that her work lives way after she is gone, and even though there is gossip about Patricia Highsmith, people who know nothing about her read her books. I don't think you can say that about many authors who've been dead for some while now.

    posted Wednesday, January 16 2008

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