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Loading... Carol (original 1952; edition 2005)by Patricia Highsmith
Work InformationThe Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith (1952)
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This is the book that the movie Carol is based on. I haven't seen the movie, though, so I can't compare the two. The book alternated between scenes that were very beautifully written and long stretches that were very boring. However the 1950s setting and the age difference between the two characters made for some interesting commentary on the way that women are affected differently by the constraints society puts on them at different times in their lives. At the beginning the protagonist references The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, which is an apt comparison. This is the story of a romance measured out in coffee spoons. Oh, Patricia Highsmith. Thank you. I quite lost myself in “Carol” for a few days. This book is unique and breathless, and it will not let go of you until the story is told. The writing is powerful. “It reminded her of conversations at tables, on sofas, with people whose words seemed to hover over dead, unstirrable things, who never touched a string that played. And when one tried to touch a live string, looked at one with faces as masked as ever, making a remark so perfect in its banality that one could not even believe it might be subterfuge.” “The half dangling, half cemented relationship” between Therese and Richard is so well painted, small details that slowly condense into ugliness. The chapter when they fly a kite is heartbreaking, and Richard does not understand. The description of that first meeting between Therese and Carol is a bit like drowning. For me, Therese’s story is a story of an obsession that becomes… love? A kind of love? I am still not certain. And slowly, slowly, you realize that Therese is the villain here, a villain of selfishness and weakness – until Highsmith slaps you in the face with it. In the afterword (a great one), the author calls her ending “happy”. I’d call it an ambiguous, and not an unhappy ending. And now, I’ll go and breathe. First things first: even for the 1950's, these are the most old fashioned lesbians I've ever seen. They are doing a cross country trip from New York City to Washington and don't sleep together until the Chicagoland area. None of the gals from The L Word would've waited that long. Obviously I'm 50% joking. This is a very strong book especially in the subtle ways it illustrates the oppressive social conformity of the era. Without talking about feminism in a ham fisted way, it shows the limited options for women--especially lesbians--in the country. The actual romance is cool too. These women are learning a great deal about each other in a natural and organic way. My only complaint is that Carol is sometimes dismissive of Therese's actions (we get it: she's young and whiney). But those are minor issues. It really nails things with an an abrupt ending, which in another book would've been cheap. Recommended. no reviews | add a review
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A chance encounter between two lonely women leads to a passionate romance in this lesbian cult classic. Therese, a struggling young sales clerk, and Carol, a homemaker in the midst of a bitter divorce, abandon their oppressive daily routines for the freedom of the open road, where their love can blossom. But their newly discovered bliss is shattered when Carol is forced to choose between her child and her lover. Highsmith's sensitive treatment of fully realized characters who defy stereotypes about homosexuality marks a departure from previous lesbian pulp fiction. Erotic, eloquent, and suspenseful, this story offers an honest look at the necessity of being true to one's nature.The Price of Salt is the basis for the upcoming film Carol, starring Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, and Kyle Chandler, to be released December 18, 2015. No library descriptions found.
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.54Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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That a boring old hetro like me should find such a tale so gripping, says a lot about the power of the book and, of course, about the excellence of Patricia Highsmith's writing.
The flash of recognition, confirmed by my lesbian neighbours, is intriguing. ( )