Ripley's Game

Tom is truly the modern day Satyr. His penchant for mischief is delectable: hmm you were perhaps rude to me once at a party, so now I'm going to send temptation your way and upend your life with potential mafia violence.

Most of the book is involved in charting the psychology that allows the plot to chug along. The major events are few and in between them, the book really reads like a relaxing aspirational lifestyle magazine. Yes, tell me more about Tom ordering steak from his local butcher, and seasoning it with salt and Herbes de Provence. The relaxing aspect is further enhanced by the inevitability of the events, thanks to Highsmith's solid and portentous foundation of each character's motivations.

A dependable continuation for fans of show more the Ripley series.

Aside: one technique I particularly admired in this book is the way the characters' perspectives are passed from one sentence to another, like a literary version of a camera trick. show less

It's almost inexcusable of me to give this a 5 star rating, thereby associating it w/ such truly great bks as "Finnegans Wake" or "Gargantua & Pantagruel".. but, there it is, I enjoyed it that much.. & my appreciation for Highsmith grows & grows.. I've read 2 other Ripley novels so far & they just get better & better. Once again, Highsmith spins a yarn of murder significantly different from the previous 2 Ripley tales. As always, it's labyrinthian. As Ripley's character ages, his motives for committing murder have transformed from immature greed & envy to twisted ways of 'helping other people out'. I reckon Highsmith makes herself a primary figure in the "anti-hero" genre w/ Ripley. Unlike the more common tact of crime fiction writers show more like P.D.James (& most of the rest), the 'protaganist' isn't a detective, he's a criminal. But he's a criminal who loves 'his' wife, appreciates the talents & dedication of 'his' servant, enjoys art, & will kill people on the spur of the moment or premeditatively. This was even a sentimental tale. show less

I thought this one was better than [b:Ripley Underground Ripley #2|56710874|Ripley Underground Ripley #2|Patricia Highsmith|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|88662814], but not as tightly woven as [b:The Talented Mr. Ripley|2247142|The Talented Mr. Ripley (Ripley, #1)|Patricia Highsmith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1611780694l/2247142._SY75_.jpg|1817520]. It gave a really nice adrenaline rush, and I found it difficult to put down, but there were parts that were just too unbelievable. Inept Mafia guys showing up exactly when expected, as if on cue in a one-act comedy play, was just over-the-top ridiculous.

Of the first three Ripley novels, I think this one might be the best, as it traces the moral degeneration of heretofore decent people. The RIpley protagonist, who must now be middle-aged, is actually now somewhat sympathetic and his sociopathic tendencies somewhat suppressed.

3.5 stars

This is the third book in the Tom Ripley series. At least at the start of the book, there is not much focus on Tom, himself. He manages to get involved in the life of a man, Jonathan, who has a disease and isn’t sure how long he is going to live. Jonathan is convinced to help murder someone… then is asked to do it again.

I think I liked this one better than the 2nd book (or what I remember of it!). To be honest, at least in the first half, I was bored when the focus was more on Tom’s life at home with his wife, Heloise, whom I find very boring. I have no interest in their lives. I found following Jonathan and his story much more interesting, and when Tom got more involved with Jonathan, that ramped up my interest. Part of show more the book was a little more edge-of-your-seat (or my seat, anyway!), I thought. But, I didn’t think the end was realistic… or, realism aside, it wasn’t in character (not Tom’s or Jonathan’s character, but Simone’s charater, Jonathan’s wife). So, overall, it was a “good” read for me. show less

Tom Ripley is perhaps my favorite psychopath. Even though he is frighteningly amoral, I still find myself somehow rooting for him as he murders his “best friend”, engages in art forgery (and commits murder to cover it up), plays with the lives of others (and murders some of them of course) simply because he feels he was snubbed, indulges in a lot of sexually ambiguous behavior, and generally plays a game of cat-and-mouse with anyone who crosses his path.

Halfway through this one, I wondered if I really wished to continue reading about this guy. Turns out, the answer is "yes." This entry relieved some of the pressure by providing the inner thoughts of another character (caught in Ripley's web). Some unsettling ethical musings, echoing the story of Job (which, admittedly, I was tipped off to by a blurb on the back cover).