Ripley Under Ground
Ratings26
Average rating3.3
First one was better. And Patricia Highsmith was, to quote my mother, “someone who gives lesbians a bad name”. Take of that what you will
The recent RIPLEY TV series got a mixed response. Despite some finding it slow and boring, all style over substance, I loved it, and having fairly recently read the book, immediately reached for the sequel. In RIPLEY UNDER GROUND the author gives us what is essentially a French farce but recounted in calm, conversational language. From this dichotomy of absurd events and mundane telling the psychopathy of Ripley (now a serial killer) emerges. Cleverly done, and a marvellous character! Unfortunately, the plot is a mess. Its crescendos come in the wrong places and its lulls are frequently too long. A farce requires a rapid pace and a wild escalation. Those elements are not well handled here, and the cliff-hanger ending doesn't work at all. Disappointing.
If this many people showed up at my house with little to no notice, I might also be homicidal
[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/1634841836l/2247142.SX50.jpg 1817520] is one of my favorite books, and I was doubtful that anything could top it (or compare to it) when starting the second in the series. Ripley Under Ground is a high quality thriller in its own right, but compared to the original it falls short. After getting to know the character of Tom Ripley, the series of events that takes place in Ripley Under Ground feels less realistic for the character.Still, I enjoyed it, and Highsmith does an amazing job of describing the aesthetically rich life of Ripley and his peers. It was good enough for me to feel confident in continuing the rest of the series.
Not as compelling as the Talented Mr. Ripley, but still a page-turner. I'm ready to start the next in the Ripley series and see where Highsmith goes with his character...