Showing posts with label patricia highsmith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label patricia highsmith. Show all posts

Saturday, October 24, 2009

In praise of Patrica Highsmith

Beautiful shadowI've just finished reading Beautiful Shadow: A Life of Patricia Highsmith "Beautiful Shadow" the life of Patricia Highsmith, and by coincidence Patricia Highsmith's 1957 novel "Deep Water" is to be made into a movie, not a day too soon in my humble opinion.

Deep Water is a psychological thriller about a couple in small-town America, whose seemingly perfect marriage comes under scrutiny when the wife's extra-marital affairs, are thought to have resulted in the deaths of several men.

Her most famous book and my favourite is the "The Talented Mr Ripley" I bought this book while on holiday in India, before it was made into a film. I remember lying on a beach quite unable to believe what I was reading, the novel's "hero" is a psychopath, and a likable one! Utterly gripping and creepy, one of the books that you never forget.

Born in Texas but spending her working life in Europe, she was as odd as the characters in her novels. Her life story would make a great film.
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