Ripley Under Ground

Ripley Under Ground | Patricia Highsmith

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I listened to the Talented Mr. Ripley in October. When I saw there is a new Netflix series, I decided to listen to the second of the five books before watching. Just because. #readbeforewatching I enjoyed both books. The narrating is really well done too.

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vivastory

Ripley Under Ground | Patricia Highsmith

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Ripley Under Ground finds Tom Ripley several years after the events of The Talented Mr. Ripley married & living in a large house in a village outside of Paris. Involved in an art forgery scam, along with the knowledge of several other participants, the book opens with an American businessman who suspects that the Derwatt that he purchased is a forgery & is threatening to go public. Things soon escalate in this very plot driven novel with a

vivastory fantastic sense of place. I loved how Highsmith managed to interweave a story of European sensibilities with the eruptions of physical violence. I also felt like I had a better sense of Tom Ripley as a character & how layered he is after reading this, despite the breakneck pace of some of the chapters. Now I just need a Dubonnet & an afternoon nap. 1y

LeahBergen A Dubonnet! Yes! 🤣🤣 I love this series. 1y

Billypar This is the only Ripley novel I've read and I remember liking it, but the only specific thing I remember is a murder scene that has apparently stuck with me 21 years later. 1y

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vivastory @Billypar In the wine cellar? 🍷🍷 1y

Billypar That's the one! I still think about it sometimes when I pick up wine bottles 🤕 1y

vivastory @Billypar It was a powerful scene! For me it had vibes of Cask of Amontillado, in a memorable way. 1y

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AllDebooks

Ripley Under Ground | Patricia Highsmith

so-so

This picks up Tom Ripley's story 6 years after The talented Mr Ripley. I adored the 1st book, it was a taut, enigmatic fast-paced thriller. Unfortunately, I was disappointed by her sequel. I found the plot far-fetched, irritating characters and little tension. Shame really as I was really looking forward to it. I will read more of Patricia Highsmith's work, just not Ripley.

#192025 challenge - 1971 ✔️
@Librarybelle

eeclayton I enjoyed all of the 5 Ripley novels, but I agree that none of them is as brilliant as the first. I think it's best to think about them not as sequels but as stand-alones that happen to have the same character. 2y

Librarybelle I do need to read Highsmith - maybe I can get to The Talented Mr Ripley for this challenge! 2y

AllDebooks @eeclayton that's a good point actually. 2y

AllDebooks @Librarybelle it is a very good read, the films good too, cos y'know, Jude Law 😉 2y

Librarybelle Haha! I haven‘t seen the film in years! 2y

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AllDebooks

Ripley Under Ground | Patricia Highsmith

1. Every day without fail, it's the only thing that keeps me sane(ish)

2. I listen to a lot of audiobooks when doing other things. I have a lot of free time due to chronic illness. Sometimes it's the only thing I can do during flareups.

3. Non-fiction - nature books
Fiction - gothic novels
If stuck in a reading rut, poetry or short stories, moving on to essays as my concentration mojo comes back 😁

@Eggs

Eggs #3 good strategy ❣️ 2y

AllDebooks @Eggs it really works too 😁 2y

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Minervasbutler

Ripley Under Ground | Patricia Highsmith

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A few years have passed since the events of The Talented Mr Ripley and Tom is now living high on the hog in France, and married to the beautiful Heloise ("So, what first attracted you to billionaire's daughter Heloise, Mr Ripley?" one would love to ask), and generally enjoying life. Then an art scam threatens to disturb Tom's peace. A worthy sequel.

Amoon Loved the film, nice to know there‘s a sequel. Will have to read the first book first . Thanks 3y

Minervasbutler @Amoon there are actually 5 in all. Definitely read them in sequence 3y

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