Name: The talented Mr. Ripley
Rating: 3.829545454545455 (132 reviews)
ISBN: 0375407928

Patricia Highsmith

Ripley under ground ; Ripley's game

The talented Mr. Ripley

Beautifully rejacketed as part of VINTAGE LOVES FILM Tom Ripley is struggling to stay one step ahead of his creditors, and the law, when an unexpected acquaintance offers him a free trip to Europe and a chance to start over. Ripley wants money, success and the good life and he's willing to kill for it. When his new-found happiness is threatened, his response is as swift as it is shocking. The psychopathic Ripley has been portrayed on screen by actors as diverse as John Malkovich, Alain Delon and Dennis Hopper. But in the recent stylish film adaptation of The Talented Mr Ripley Matt Damon took the title role, alongside Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow.

The Talented Mr Ripley

ikkychan

In an era where killers are applauded and immortalized in the hall of fame of true crime podcasts, easily garnering a faithful and strong fanbase, it's no surprise that the term 'likable sociopath' has also gained traction in recent years, particularly in pop culture and literature. Reading and watching them has become a fascination of sorts. After all, they're vastly different from us; they possess charm and a compelling personality, often using it to expertly manipulate situations. They're easily bored, purposefully seeking danger and thrills. They disregard rules without remorse or guilt, lacking both empathy and remorse for the harm they inflict on others. They're the perfect ingredients for a promising tale of chaos and turmoil, something we all crave to spice up our otherwise mundane lives. However, we often forget the simplest fact that in real life, encountering most of these sociopaths would prompt us to flee for safety rather than fostering any sense of affection. Thus, what’s making them so adorable and so rightful of our love? Patricia Highsmith’s ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ might hold the key for this discourse. Tom Ripley has found himself in a rut; nothing seems to work for him nowadays. Not his illicit tax forgery as a fake IRS agent nor his circle of sleazy, disreputable middle-class friends which terribly bore him to death with their unsolicited financial advice and constant whining. But ‘something always turned up. That was Tom’s philosophy.’ And now that philosophy has manifested itself in the form of Herbert Greenleaf, Sr. who reaches out to him rather desperately and promptly asks him to go to Italy to try and persuade his dilettante son, Richard ‘Dickie’ Greenleaf, Jr. to stop pursuing his directionless painting obsession and go back to the States to inherit daddy’s boating business. At first, Tom pays no mind to his request and tries to dismiss him as politely as he could, but when Mr. Greenleaf expresses his willingness to sponsor his journey entirely out of his own pocket, Tom believes he just struck a bargain-in-a-lifetime. Away he goes to Mongibello, a small town on the outskirts of Naples, to meet this trust fund baby and his American neighbor, Marge Sherwood, knowing exactly what he would say to get Dickie to like him. But little does he know that he would, in turn, like Dickie so much he wants to devour his whole identity. To begin with, there are several factors as to why we as the reader might develop sympathy towards the book protagonist (and its main villain) Tom Ripley. First of all, it is an indisputable fact that he personifies a spectrum of Antisocial Personality Disorder. While it's a broader clinical term that encompasses various aspects of disregarding others' rights, impulsivity, and deceitfulness, this mental health condition also includes both Psychopathy and Sociopathy, which fall under the vast umbrella of ASPD. Interestingly, these two traits exhibit widely different rates of public acceptance and amiability. Take Cormac McCarthy’s Anton Chigurh, for example, a psychopathic hitman who displays no emotions and reveals no signs of human empathy or connection at all, which gives us nothing to relate to and thus we could not really root for. There’s also this certain belief that psychopaths are born that way while sociopaths are made, often stemming from horrible experiences of childhood trauma. This is true to Ripley, who reflected his miserable adolescence as an orphan growing up under Aunt Dottie’s iron hand, who repeatedly called him a ‘sissy’ and openly despised him, ‘wrenching his nose off’ whenever he had a cold. She was as generous with her compassion as she is with her money; usually gives him a pittance to get by despite having the means to bequeath so much more. This changes how we feel about Tom, as learning about his abuse and neglect at an early age affects how we perceive his own abusive behavior as an adult. However, what ultimately becomes the primary reason that provokes our preconceptions about him is the socioeconomic conflict between him and Dickie. From the beginning, he's clearly the disadvantaged one compared to Dickie's excessive wealth in a world sharply divided by class and it’s almost pathetic to see how he has to cling on and calibrate every aspect of himself in accordance to Dickie’s impulsive mood. Any of us who have witnessed those with fewer skills or intelligence progress more than us, just because they have more money, might find satisfaction in how Ripley adjusts these imbalances. His nihilism might be seen as a distorted, misguided sense of morality, and we all applaud him when he does what he does — and gets away with it. He resonates with all America's favorite rags-to-riches story plot under the belief that we can carve our destinies using intelligence and sheer determination. In spite of all the thrill, the reader shouldn’t disregard the truth that Ripley is empty inside; he lacks any depth of emotions or feelings and is unable to appreciate or perhaps even dislikes the concept of change or personal growth. He shows disdain or disrespect towards the idea of changing themselves or their situation. Of course, there’s something intriguing to witnessing Ripley discard his shy and self-effacing facade, revealing an intelligent and daring sociopathic side, but this doesn’t erase the fact that his ‘Dickie Greenleaf, Tom Ripley’s Version’ is only a fabricated persona, a constructed image of a cultured, wealthy man he created to break with his shameful past and scornful self. He convinces both us and himself of the myth of Dickie Greenleaf. And as much as we understood where he came from, we may still be shocked by the unethical methods Tom employed to achieve that objective and the extent to which he goes to sustain it. Indeed, the more we consume his tale, the more you might question your own moral relativity. Life's not as simple as good or bad, and people aren't just one or the other. There's this middle space where these likable sociopaths fit in. They're the ones who seem charming and nice but can have a darker side too. Tom's story makes us think about how close we might be to that line between being normal and something else. It's like it asks us, what if we let loose a bit and stepped into a world where there aren't so many rules holding us back? Wouldn’t that be great? All you have to do is shed your bit of humanity and have a little luck…like The Talented Tom Ripley.

shivani karadia

In order to convince his son to come home, Herbert Greenleaf, a rich shipbuilder, sends the suave con man Tom Ripley to Italy, but is unaware of his son's friend's criminal activities. Reprint.

The Talented Mr. Ripley

once dickie dies, this novel becomes so unfathomably boring that the thought of having to open it again to continue reading was physically repulsive to me. i don't even know how i found the strength to finish it. maybe i would have enjoyed it more had i read it in 1955.

kemi

Tom Ripley is quietly living a life of luxury at his chateau at Villeperce, and, as ever, is keeping one step ahead of the law - he has, after all, a past that would not bear too much close scrutiny … The fifth novel featuring the protagonist Tom Ripley finds the sophisticated and amoral American expatriate being harassed by David Pritchard, a fellow American whose boorishness marks him as something of Ripley's alter-ego. Inexplicably familiar with all the incriminating details of Ripley's past, Pritchard is determined to expose him. He shadows Ripley's every move, first spying on him at home in France and then following him to Morocco. Tensions build on the return to Villeperce as Pritchard sets out to locate a body Ripley would prefer remain hidden in a nearby river …

Ripley Under Water

Sarah Sammis

Two and a half years ago I read The Mysterious Mr. Ripley, an omnibus containing the first three Tom Ripley novels by Patricia Highsmith. Ripley Under Water is the fifth and final book in the series coming just four years before Highsmith's death in 1995.

When Tom Ripley was first introduced in The Talented Mr. Ripley, he was young, unbalanced and quick to anger. He also had a big ego and no scruples when it came to getting ahead in life.

By Ripley Under Water, he's older and happy with the life he has stolen, killed and lied for. He had a nice wife, a housekeeper and a home in France. He's basically retired. All of that is interrupted by a pair of annoying Americans who begin poking into his life and worse — his past! Young Ripley wouldn't have bothered with trying to figure out what the Americans wanted; he would have offed them as a matter of course and then gone about convincing their relatives that he was a long time friend and recently written into their will.

Old Ripley, though, doesn't want to risk things. He doesn't get angry. Instead he travels all over Europe and down to Northern Africa, more scared than anything. I appreciate that people might change or fall into new routines but Ripley's temper and amoral take on life is the main appeal of the series.

Had it just been Ripley's swan-song, I would have enjoyed the book just for closure on a series I have enjoyed (I still need to read book 4: The Boy Who Followed Ripley). Unfortunately, the poor editing got in the way. As the book progresses, Tom's name gets used more and more. I counted one sentence that used his name five times and he was the only person in the scene. "He", "him" and "himself" would have worked so much better. I don't remember the earlier books having this problem.

Tom Ripley detested murder. Unless it was absolutely necessary. Wherever possible, he preferred someone else to do the dirty work. In this case someone with no criminal record, who would commit 'two simple murders' for a very generous fee.

Ripley's Game

Erik Wallace

Not my favorite in the series, but still enjoyable.

Ripley wants out, and when offered a trip to Italy to "rescue" an errant son, he takes it. When the money runs out he's prepared to cheat and kill if necessary to keep it.

Gillian Rose

I saw the movie years ago, but it still was an interesting read.

"Ripley is an unmistakable descendant of Gatsby, that 'penniless young man without a past' who will stop at nothing."—Frank Rich Now part of American film and literary lore, Tom Ripley, "a bisexual psychopath and art forger who murders without remorse when his comforts are threatened" (New York Times Book Review), was Patricia Highsmith's favorite creation. In these volumes, we find Ripley ensconced on a French estate with a wealthy wife, a world-class art collection, and a past to hide. In Ripley Under Ground (1970), an art forgery goes awry and Ripley is threatened with exposure; in The Boy Who Followed Ripley (1980), Highsmith explores Ripley's bizarrely paternal relationship with a troubled young runaway, whose abduction draws them into Berlin's seamy underworld; and in Ripley Under Water (1991), Ripley is confronted by a snooping American couple obsessed with the disappearance of an art collector who visited Ripley years before. More than any other American literary character, Ripley provides "a lens to peer into the sinister machinations of human behavior" (John Freeman, Pittsburgh Gazette).

Ripley Under Ground

I just didn't care about his exploits this time. It felt very repetitive and the other characters weren't as interesting.

Better than the second one because I actually cared about Jonathan. My problem with this one was I didn't fully understand why Ripley was doing all of this, and he seemed like a supporting character instead of the lead.

"Ripley is an unmistakable descendant of Gatsby, that 'penniless young man without a past' who will stop at nothing." —Frank Rich The Boy Who Followed Ripley, the fourth novel in the Ripley series, is one of Patricia Highsmith's darkest and most twisted creations. Tom Ripley meets a young American runaway who has a dark secret that he is desperate to hide. Soon this unlikely pair is drawn into the seamy underworld of Berlin and a shocking kidnapping. In this masterful thriller, Highsmith shatters our perceptions of her most famous creation by letting us glimpse a more compassionate side of this amoral charmer.

The Boy Who Followed Ripley

I found the beginning pretty interesting, but then it got boring and repetitive.

Another interesting setup for the story, but nothing happened and the ending was highly unsatisfying!

Jeannette Ordas

Quite enjoyable, well written and a fun read. Who doesn't like to delve into foreign locales, schemes, murder and psychopathic tendencies once in a while. Très agréable!

Anna with an A

Really liked it! 
I don't know how to write reviews properly but if you love Italy and stories about complex characters - this is a must! 

Moamay-i aghay-i Ripley

Nooshin

‫از یک کتابِ کارآگاهی در حالتِ معمول انتظار می‌رود که با شرایطی مرموز و وهمناک به استقبالِ خواننده بیاید و در هر لحظه از آغاز تا پایان نگرانیِ یک قتلِ فجیع یا یک پرده‌برداریِ حیرت‌انگیز وجود داشته باشد. معمای آقای ریپلیِ هایسمیت (که نامِ اصلی‌اش «آقای ریپلیِ بااستعداد» است و مانندِ بسیاری دفعاتِ دیگر درکِ دلیلِ مترجم برای تغییرِ عنوانِ انگلیسی مشکل است) هیچ ارتباطی به این شیوه‌ی معمولِ داستان‌سرایی ندارد.

‫در یک‌سومِ آغازینِ کتاب به‌سختی می‌توان موضوعی عجیب یا مرموز دید، حتّی خواندنش تا حدّی طاقت‌فرساست. من − که اوّلین بار بود کتابی از هایسمیت می‌خواندم − هدفِ نویسنده را از نوشتنِ آن‌همه جزئیّات و بدونِ هیچ موضوعِ جالبِ توجّهی نمی‌فهمیدم. جلوتر که رفتم کم‌کم دلیلِ این‌گونه نوشتنِ نویسنده برایم روشن شد و فهمیدم پیش‌داوری‌ام در موردِ کتاب‌هایی از این ژانر کار دستم داده است. در واقع جذّابیّتِ کتاب با شروعِ «حوادثِ جناییِ» داستان شروع  نشد، بلکه آشکار  شد. و این شاید از جذّاب‌ترین پیشامدهایی‌ست که ممکن است برای خواننده‌ی یک کتاب در طولِ مطالعه رخ دهد.

‫به‌نوعی معمّای آقای ریپلی بیش از آن‌که یک کتابِ جنایی-کارآگاهی باشد کتابی روان‌شناسانه است و تام ریپلی بیش از آن‌که جانی و خلاف‌کار باشد به سوژه‌ی یک پرونده‌ی روانی نزدیک است. نثرِ بی‌احساس و صرفاً بازگوکننده‌ی هایسمیت که تلاشی در برانگیختنِ احساسات (خشم و هیجان و نفرت) در خواننده نمی‌کند باعث می‌شود توجّهِ خواننده بیشتر از نفسِ اعمالِ صورت‌گرفته در طولِ داستان به مجموعه حوادث و دلایلِ پنهانی که به این اعمال انجامیده‌اند جلب شود. شاید جذّاب‌ترین کتابِ «کارآگاهی»ای که خواندم نبود، امّا این تنها در صورتی‌ست که بگوییم این کتاب به‌تمامی در این ژانر می‌گنجد؛ که از دیدِ من چندان درست نخواهد بود.

‫ترجمه‌ی فرزانه طاهری خوب و کم‌غلط است و با آن‌که نثری نسبتاً قدیمی دارد همچنان خوش‌خوان است؛ امّا در مقابل ویراستاریِ کتاب مشکلاتِ متعدّدی دارد. نکته‌ی قابلِ ذکرِ دیگر این‌که سانسورِ کتاب نزدیک به صفر است و همین برای کتابی پر از اسامیِ انواعِ مختلفِ مشروب نکته‌ی مثبتی به‌حساب می‌آید!

The talented Mr. Ripley Ripley under ground ; Ripley's game

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