Patricia Highsmith

Selected Novels and Short Stories

By: Patricia Highsmith

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot, Cassandra Campbell

Length: 27 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

The remarkable renaissance of Patricia Highsmith continues with the publication of Patricia Highsmith: Selected Novels and Short Stories, featuring the groundbreaking novels Strangers on a Train and The Price of Salt as well as a trove of penetrating short stories. With a critical introduction by Joan Schenkar, situating Highsmith’s classic works within her own tumultuous life, this book provides a useful guide to some of her most dazzlingly seductive writing. Strangers on a Train, transformed into a legendary film by Alfred Hitchcock, displays Highsmith’s genius for psychological characterization and tortuous suspense, while The Price of Salt, with its lesbian lovers and a creepy PI, provides a thrilling and highly controversial depiction of “the love that dare not speak its name”. This book firmly establishes Highsmith’s centrality to American culture by presenting key works that went on to influence half a century of literature and film. Abandoned by the wider reading public in her lifetime, Highsmith finally gets the canonical recognition that is her due.

©2011 Diogenes Verlag AG, Zurich; 1993 by Diogenes Verlag AG, Zurich; Introduction 2011 by W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Patricia Highsmith’s novels are peerlessly disturbing…bad dreams that keep us thrashing for the rest of the night.” ( New Yorker)

Mixed review

I have mixed feelings about this book. After seeing the movie years ago, I wanted to listen to Strangers on a Train. It was my favorite story in the book. Several of the short stores were interesting. The Price of Salt was my least favorite. A brave subject to write about because of the decade it was written. I found the story drawn out and boring with too much dialogue. The two narrators did a good job. The only reason I gave the book 4 stars was because of Strangers on a Train.

Highsmith: Her Name Reflects Her Craft

I learned much about her private life and pathological relationship with her mother. While she was strange in her personal life, that same quality exists in her writing which also demonstrates her intelligence, her focus on resourceful/unique characters, settings, and creative and unique plots which usually hinge on at least one amoral or sociopathic character. She follows with meticulous logic from beginning to the end of the story and her writing is fairly literary and compelling to read.

Narrator is fantastic

the voice of Bruno, in Strangers on the Train, is perhaps the best audio narration I have ever heard . . .

Good interpretations

What made the experience of listening to Patricia Highsmith the most enjoyable?

As a Highsmith fan, I'd already read most of these stories myself. I don't normally listen to stories but I got this Audible because in listening to another person read to you, you pick up different nuances to the story and somewhat of a different interpretation as well. That proved true here to great effect, although it can be a little jarring to have an idea of what a character sounds like in your head be different to that of the narrator's interpretation!

Did Bronson Pinchot and Cassandra Campbell do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

I think audio narrators should stick to making voices for only characters of their own gender. Pinchot mimicking women's voices and Campbell mimicking male voices was, for the most part, unintentionally hilarious. While it was entertaining it took away from the listening experience and from the story.

Pinchot uses the same slow drag which made different characters' dialogue run together. Campbell was all right, though I was disappointed in her "Carol" (The Price of Salt) voice which came off a little too nasally and high whereas in the story it's described as sultry and dark.

Aside from that, the narration was just fine.

Bought for Price of Salt, but liked Bronson too!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Actually, I think other audiobooks are better produced (this one seemed kind of slapped together and rushed - no break in between stories). The stories however, are excellent!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Patricia Highsmith?

Bought this solely to listen to

Have you listened to any of Bronson Pinchot and Cassandra Campbell ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I would definitely listen to Bronson again. Cassandra was good, but I think that Terese Plummer would have done a better job (listen to

Who was the most memorable character of Patricia Highsmith and why?

Terese Belivet - for her conviction and development throughout The Price of Salt

Long before "Carol," I admired and respected Ms. Highsmith

Her writing is sublime. Her stories rich with authentic emotional details. The angst of life and moral dilemmas vividly detailed. This is a full measure of her talent for real life storytelling. She captivates you with problematic characters which you can hold up to your self mirror. Sheer rather gruesome delight.

Great story

What made the experience of listening to Patricia Highsmith the most enjoyable?

The feel of the story. Some of the plot could guessed but not the ending.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Really did not have 1 favorite character but the first story in the book was my favorite.

What about Bronson Pinchot and Cassandra Campbell ’s performance did you like?

Bronson was great! Cassandra was ok

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Nothing extreme was enjoyed.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this book

excellent writer and good performers

What made the experience of listening to Patricia Highsmith the most enjoyable?

Stranger on a Train (yes the book Hitchcock based his great movie on) is the best kind of psychological thriller.

Strangers on a Train

I wanted to read Strangers on a Train because I love the noir film classic based on this book. It was interesting because Patricia Highsmith is a master at painting the slow downward spiral, the menace in the every-day, and the grim experience of late stage alcoholism (note to self: it does not look like fun). But it needs editing. The same scenes repeat themselves too often and the protagonist goes over the same ground and comes to the same decisions over and over again. The book just doesn't get down to business and go where it's going. By the end I was weary enough of the story that I didn't much care how it came out.

I didn't care for Bronson Pinchot's reading. In trying to produce southern accents he made the southerners sound bored - not southern. Also, he used a particular lilting drag for the bad guy, the faithful woman, and the private eye. These are all very different characters who should have to some extent their own voices, or at least not the same odd drawn-out way of speaking that makes them blend together. And I wish men readers would just read women's voices normally - Pinchot, like some other men I've heard, tries to make it clear this is a female voice by making it breathy or whiny. The female voices were annoying.

Carol

A beautiful and trascendental book. A brave author who wrote a veyr special bond between two woman who at the time couldnt be happy together.
Its such an elegant read, with romance, suspense and drama built in such a perfect way. Also, its rather a simple story. Carol and Therese met in a very common place, but their bond change both of her lifes. I love how this book shows a simple romance, but the huge impact and meaning of it.
Also its a deep study on how woman are pressured (so much than man) into a mother role. How they are judged and how society demands from them a specific behaviour.
There isnt a lot of lesbian representation in literature, and this one is definetely a must. It also breaks some cliches on how lesbian woman are. Two excelent built characters.
Performance was excelent, romantic and soft.
A very enjoyable story, proof of discrimination and homophobia. Just for the bravery of Patricia Highsmith the novel must be read.