I was in the mood for a psychological thriller, so I finally unearthed my copy of The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. I haven’t seen the 1999 film (with young Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow!), but I’ve been meaning to read the book ever since I mooched a copy, although I still have to “do a Blooey” (er, a term my book club friends coined for my compulsion for “upgrading” mass market paperbacks into trade paperbacks and trade paperbacks into hardcovers) on it — it’s a movie cover and a mass market paperback.
The Talented Mr. Ripley was written in 1955, and is the first of a series of novels featuring a conman and anti-hero named Tom Ripley (the other books being Ripley Under Ground, Ripley’s Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley and Ripley Under Water). The novel was awarded the Edgar Allan Poe Award by the Mystery Writers of America.
Tom Ripley is a down-on-his luck young man, trying to make ends meet mooching off other people and doing minor con work, like scaring people into paying non-existent taxes, then cashing the checks.
One night, he meets shipping magnate Herbert Greenleaf at a bar. Herbert’s son, Dickie, is in Italy living a bohemian life with no intentions of going back home to the US to take over the family business. Herbert asks Ripley to go on an all-expense paid trip to Italy to persuade Dickie to come home, and Ripley readily agrees, seeing this as an opportunity to start a new life and make his fortune.
Ripley is remotely acquainted with Dickie, and when he arrives in Italy, he quickly befriends Dickie and moves into his house, and soon the two are inseparable. Dickie’s girlfriend, Marge Sherwood, however, is soon suspicious of Ripley’s intentions, and Dickie himself begins to get tired of Ripley’s company. Ripley does not succeed in convincing Dickie to come home, so Herbert Greenleaf gives up, and stops sending money to cover Ripley’s expenses. Ripley, however, likes his new privileged life with Dickie and will stop at nothing — not even murder– to find a way to maintain this lifestyle.
I found Tom Ripley a fascinating character. Although not as depraved as, say, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille in Patrick Suskind’s Perfume, Ripley is easier to relate to. He’s an unfortunate guy trying find a better life for himself, and his debased cruelty is tempered by a surprising vulnerability: more than financial security, Ripley wants friendship and acceptance, as well as respect from society. Highsmith really takes you into Ripley’s psyche that you end up rooting for him to succeed.
Framed against the backdrop of the sultry Italian coast, Venice, colorful Cannes, and the gay Paris, it’s an engrossing read that’s part travelogue, part boyish fun (er, bromance!), part deadpan comedy and part sinister thriller. Logic-wise, the plot is pretty incredible (if I had a tenth of Tom Ripley’s sheer luck I’d be over the moon!), but the depth of the character of Tom Ripley makes you believe it, and spurs you to turn page after page after page.
This definitely makes me want to read the rest of the “Ripliad,” I think I’ll go hunt down the rest of the books. I think I want to see the film adaptation of this too — has anyone seen it and read the book as well? How was it? Let me know!
***
The Talented Mr. Ripley, mass market paperback (movie tie-in cover), 4/5 stars
Book #30 for 2010
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Hi Blooey,
I am glad you posted a review on this one, The Talented Mr. Ripley. My daughter recently bought a copy from a bookstore (Caleb’s)in Dagupan City and I am planning to read it once I finish Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes.
How are you? Wish to see all of you again one of these days at FFP.
Arlene
Hi Arlene. The Talented Mr. Ripley is a quick and enjoyable read. I hope you enjoy it as well. Under the Tuscan Sun is good too, although I prefer Peter Mayle to Frances Mayes.
We miss you at FFP too! :) See you soon!
The film is balls. The 1999 version, anyway. The 1960 version (titled “Purple Noon”) with Alain Delon as Ripley is much better, despite a cop-out ending.
The sequel books are all good, though some are better than others. “Ripley’s Game” is by far the best. The first three books form a nice little trilogy (Amazon sells a hardcover edition of them for $18), and I would recommend reading all five if you like the character. (You can also buy a hardcover set of all five books for $65, if you have a money tree that’s blooming.)
There are also some other good movies: “The American Friend” (based on “Ripley’s Game”) with Dennis Hopper (my favorite Ripley, but I think I’m in the minority), and “Ripley’s Game” with John Malkovich. There’s also a “Ripley Under Ground” movie with Barry Pepper, but it hasn’t been released on DVD in the Western world.
Hi Craig, that was highly informative, thanks! I am hunting down the other books, I do like Ripley as a character. And I think I’ll try and get copies of the movies as well.