Strangers on a Train in Around the World in 80 Books

Sep 29, 2019 Suvi rated it liked it

Shelves: _north-america, crime-mystery, 1940-1969, novels

I have a strange thing going on with Highsmith. No matter how much I like the stories themselves (and the stories have inspired so many good movies, such as Purple Noon [1960]), reading feels like a slog. Maybe her novels are too long for their own good and I should try her short stories, but every time I open one of her books, I get the same brick wall between us every time. I don't mean that she's a bad writer, or that I don't like slow and subtle, just that I can never get into her books ...more

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May 20, 2018 Andy Plonka rated it it was amazing

Shelves: src

What would be the perfect crime provides a moral problem for one of the participants. Highsmith really tells a good tale, perfectly scripted and though it was written in 1950, it has not lost its impact.

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Jan 23, 2017 Nadine in NY Jones rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, classic, psych-psych-psych, literary-schmiterary, era-mid-20th-c

But there were too many points at which the other self could invade the self he wanted to preserve, and there were too many forms of invasion: certain words, sounds, lights, actions his hands or feet performed, and if he did nothing at all, heard and saw nothing, the shouting of some triumphant inner voice that shocked him and cowed him.

Amazing.

This is the perfect descent into madness.

It's a downward spiral into a sort of Raskolnikovian territory:

“I don’t suffer enough!” burst from him s

...more

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Feb 09, 2009 Jen rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, twisted, murders-mysteries-thrills, mental-health

A nice and harrowing psychological thriller. I'll always remember Highsmith's description of a pimple on Bruno's face early on in the story. ...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Sera rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, thriller-suspense, library, mystery

This book was a great noir read. Highsmith did a nice job of getting behind the motive of a murderer, whether or not he seeks atonement for his actions, and the role that we as society play as to whether the violent acts of others go unpunished.

I was on the edge of my seat for much of this book, which doesn't happen to me very often. The characters are deftly drawn and the story moves along at a nice pace.

I would highly recommend this book to mystery/crime/thriller fans.

I didn't know that Highs ...more

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Mar 05, 2016 Windy rated it really liked it

Really good thriller which kept me gripped. Interesting study of how people can influence over others

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Jul 24, 2008 Jessica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, noir

This book is almost old enough to qualify for Medicare, but it still packs a tremendous narrative punch and feels surprisingly fresh. Even if you've seen the movie or know the plot, give this one a spin - you'll probably find that the original telling is even better than what you think you know. ...more

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