Collection has 3 novels. In Aug. '22 I read the first "Talented Mr. Ripley."
Liked it. Reading about a murderer who feels no guilt (*) is disturbing, but by all accounts, that's what she's going for. Suspenseful with good writing style. I was expecting prose to be more literary/wordy, like Graham Greene or Evelyn Waugh, but it's more straightforward like Fitzgerald / Hemingway. The movie version took liberties that were probably good for the movie, gave SOME reason for what he was doing, made you more sympathetic. In the book, he's a sociopath w/almost zero redeeming qualities or sympathetic attitudes. Not a seria-killer sociapath like American Psycho, but more a pathetic loser w/trouble childhood who dislike the few people who are willing to be friendly w/him. He's unlikable but I was interested in what would happen to him (it's told from his POV) and interested/repelled by his lack of moral compass. ( )

[[Patricia Highsmith]]'s Ripley character is wildly popular, and I wanted to see what all that was about. Spoiler Alert - I only read the first of the three books in this omnibus. Anytime I've heard someone talk about Ripley, or seen a film adaptation, Ripley is portrayed as this savant psychopath, a chameleon able to slip through the gaps in society as he preys on everyone. But I found Highsmith's Ripley a particularly weak and overly lucky character. He doesn't really bear any of the hallmarks of a true psychopath, and he is all too often frozen in fear and guilt and, well, tears. To make him the anti-hero of the story, Highsmith simply makes everyone else around him dumber. He's not a master thief or manipulator, he's just lucky everyone else is soooo stupid. I don't understand why everyone points to this as such a touchstone of early crime writing.

2 1/2 bones!!! ( )

I really enjoyed these 3 Tom Ripley books. Patricia Highsmith has such an easy to read writing style.. hard to put the books down..I want to know each detail of what he's up to next! ( )

The Talented Mr. Ripley: Review at http://www.librarything.com/review/154849078

Ripley Under Ground: The second Ripley novel I've read; Ripley is settled, but still conning and scheming his way through life, with not-great consequences for those in his path ... another really good read, though. (Read 2019)

Ripley's Game: An even more rip-roaring novel, which I read in nearly one sitting because I couldn't stop turning the pages. More suspenseful than even the last. Loathsome characters, but they sure make for good reading. ( )

De Ripley-boeken van Highsmith spreken minder tot de verbeelding dan de Ripley-films. Op het scherm is Ripley koelbloedig, zelfzeker, efficiënt, en lijkt zijn onaantastbaarheid onweerlegbaar en een rechtstreeks gevolg van zijn veelzijdige talenten. In de boeken moddert hij maar wat aan, en blijft hij op vrije voeten dankzij een opeenvolging van inefficiëntie, amateurisme, onwil, goedgelovigheid en toevalligheden. De Ripley van de boeken is minder 'echt' dan die van de film - en, wat wellicht nog erger is, minder geloofwaardig dan de snoodaard in de doorsnee BBC-misdaadserie. ( )