The Talented Mr. Ripley

By: Patricia Highsmith

Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Since his debut in 1955, Tom Ripley has evolved into the ultimate bad boy sociopath, influencing countless novelists and filmmakers.

In this first novel, we are introduced to suave, handsome Tom Ripley: a young striver, newly arrived in the heady world of Manhattan in the 1950s. A product of a broken home, branded a "sissy" by his dismissive Aunt Dottie, Ripley becomes enamored of the moneyed world of his new friend, Dickie Greenleaf. This fondness turns obsessive when Ripley is sent to Italy to bring back his libertine pal, but he grows enraged by Dickie's ambivalent feelings for Marge, a charming American dilettante.

A dark reworking of Henry James's The Ambassadors, The Talented Mr. Ripley—immortalized in the 1998 film starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gywneth Paltrow—is an unforgettable introduction to this debonair confidence man, whose talent for self-invention and calculated murder is chronicled in four subsequent novels.

©1955 Patricia Highsmith. Copyright renewed 1983 by Patricia Highsmith. (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"One of the great crime novels of the 20th century, Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley is a blend of the narrative subtlety of Henry James and the self-reflexive irony of Vladimir Nabokov. Like the best modernist fiction, Ripley works on two levels. First, it is the story of a young man, Tom Ripley, whose nihilistic tendencies lead him on a deadly passage across Europe. On another level, the novel is a commentary on fictionmaking and techniques of narrative persuasion. Like Humbert Humbert, Tom Ripley seduces readers into empathizing with him even as his actions defy all moral standards." (Amazon.com review)

"[Highsmith] has created a world of her own - a world claustrophobic and irrational which we enter each time with a sense of personal danger." (Graham Greene)

"One of our greatest modernist writers." (Gore Vidal)

Surprising ending! I am shocked!

I enjoyed this story. However, the voice of the voice of the narrator was not as strong as I would have liked. I was waiting for something to happen any moment to reveal the "bad guy". I was secretly happy with the end!

The subtext makes it work

Tom Ripley lives in a society that would have him kill off part of his personality in order to fit in. It's that mostly-buried truth that gives this story its deeper meaning and a significance that rises above that of the ordinary crime thriller.

Movie is actually better...

What did you like best about The Talented Mr. Ripley? What did you like least?

The narration matched the annoying, unsympathetic Tom very well.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

is this question using the subjunctive mood incorrectly?

Any additional comments?

The movie's better than the book. I found Matt Damon's characterization of Tom elicited some sympathy, and the Tom of the book is insufferable - catty, pretentious, relentlessly selfish, small-minded, delusional (I'd be satisfied if he were caught). The narrator does an excellent job of bringing the irritating Tom to life; I had originally been annoyed by the narrator, then realized that his performance really was a great match for Tom. There are some very similar scenes between the book and film (Matt Damon didn't wear an embarrassingly revealing thong; in the movie, but he did wear a garish suit on the beach), but where they differed, I think it's reasonable to say the film's presentation was just as good, if not better. I don't think there's really any more depth to the book than the film. I might have been more enthralled with the book if I had not been aware of the movie and if I were reading it within 10 years of its original publication.

Fascinating...

This was really great book. I loved it given it was my first time listening to a book of this nature. Highly recommended!

Liked it more than I expected

What made the experience of listening to The Talented Mr. Ripley the most enjoyable?

I saw the movie several years ago and can't remember the ending. I am assuming it is similar to the book. Sometimes when you see a movie before reading the book, it can be disappointing because the movie was altered too much or it is too close there isn't additional background story to be gleaned from reading the book. The book is right there in between. I am looking forward to reading the others in the series to see what dastardly deeds Mr Ripley is up to next.

What about Kevin Kenerly’s performance did you like?

I thought Kevin Kenerly's performance was kind of eerie. The somewhat soft-spoken, even tone seemed to fit the dysfunction and mindful calculations of Tom Ripley to not let emotions trip him up.

Any additional comments?

Even though the book was written about 60 years ago, it does not feel dated.

Hated the ending

Interesting throughout, except the ending. Narrator was perfect for this particular novel; he, like Mr. Ripley, was very talented. And, I don’t think Ripley was all that talented...he was just extremely lucky in the end, unfortunately. This book has held up well throughout the many years since it was published. Recommend, if you don’t mind injustice for your protagonist.

Goes on and on and becomes boring

Would you try another book from Patricia Highsmith and/or Kevin Kenerly?

Don't know.

Would you ever listen to anything by Patricia Highsmith again?

Maybe.

Which character – as performed by Kevin Kenerly – was your favorite?

Tom Ripley and DIckey Greenleaf.

Any additional comments?

The book is incredibly slow-paced and I found it pretty boring.

Fantastic

Any additional comments?

The great film of the same name doesn't even come close to doing this book justice. I was moved to cheering by the end. That it was for a psychopathic killer is why you must read this book.

Highsmith is superb
Kenerly nails the narration.

Movie was better

What did you like best about The Talented Mr. Ripley? What did you like least?

The narration was excellent, and kept me involved in this rather dated story. It is very much a piece of its time. Well written but slow paced. It was interesting to compare to the movie version and it was one of the rare instances where the movie was better (IMHO)

Tightly wound tension & anxiety you can feel

The narrator was absolutely perfect. His tone and inflection set the mood at every turn exactly. The tension and anxiety as the story progresses is almost palpable and you can hear it in his voice, feel what Tom Ripley feels. I made the mistake of listening to this book in my car each day and getting so caught up in the story that I actually felt nervous when a police car passed me!

This is a look at a man with zero compassion or concern for anyone other than himself and his own desires. A look at the interior thoughts and machinations of a selfish, narcissistic, lazy young man who wants the easy, carefree life style of the sons of wealth around him. He spends his days mooching off the rich social set, over staying his welcome & over stepping until they run him off. Greed and humiliation compel him finally, to murder and assume the identity of these young, rich playboys.

I loved the mid 1950s setting and view of Italy. The descriptions are gorgeous and the writing quite simply sweeps you away to another time and slower, gentler place. The movie with Matt Damon is a mere sample of the story when compared to the book. I will add the sequel to my to be purchased list.