Throwback Thursday (09/06/12)

Throwback Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books!

Noting that book blogging onften focuses on new releases, here’s how Throwback Thursday works:

Pick a book released more than 5 years ago.
Write up a short summary of the book (include the title, author, and cover art) and an explanation of why you love it.
Link up your post at The Housework Can Wait or Never Too Fond of Books.
Visit as many blogs as you can, reminisce about books you loved, and discover some “new” books for your TBR list!

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

From my original post, 01/30/02:

…why do I like this book so much? It’s about a total amoral putz. Usually I don’t care for fiction in which the main character is unsympathetic. But…is Tom Ripley actually unsympathetic? While he has his “oh woe is me” moments, I can kind of see where he’s coming from. He’s an intriguing character. I do have to agree with one of the blurbs on the book cover though Highsmith’s world is slightly irrational. Things happen that wouldn’t logically happen. The movie tried to make things more logical I think, and strangely that is where it went wrong. Because in the book, even Tom Ripley is amazed at how things are working out for him, irrational as the events seem to be. Bottom line, liked the book, want to read the others.

Why read it today? I think everyone has an occasional moment of “What can I get away with?” For most of us, it’s a white lie or shirking a task we don’t want to do. For Tom Ripley, it’s lying and murdering into the life he wants. Upon further reflection, I think there are two things that make Ripley a palatable character. One, he’d be a great dinner companion. Oh, you’d probably have an inkling that all his stories are lies, but he’d be entertaining, solicitous, and know all the best restaurants. Two, he’s not a super-villain. His plans are flimsy. He’s good at deception, but luck has much more to do with his success than talent. And Ripley knows it.