The Price of Salt

It’s more a novel about people growing up, learning to love, and choosing to live their life on their terms. This is probably one of the more empowering novels I’ve read this year. And by the way, there is plenty of romance in the novel as well, but like other romance novels (that I like) the substance is far larger than that.

What makes this book written in 1952 so special is that it is one of those books that stands up to the test of time. Highsmith is very smart and writes beautifully, poignantly and presents views that prescient and avant garde. This book was ahead of its time with character outlooks and points of view that seem contemporary. This is the story is about two women, Therese and Carol, who meet by chance in a department store at Christmas time.

One thing that I loved about the novel is that neither character seemed burdened by traditional conventions or perceptions of the time period or even by current standards. Perhaps unrealistic, but there was no drama associated with their mutual attraction to each other. There is no handwringing about who they are. No tearful proclamations like “I’m a lesbian! Why has the world forsaken me?!?” It’s a story about a couple dealing with life as it comes at them. It feels like a book about people breaking the conventional chains that bind them. The conflicts in these women’s lives stem from being women; not from being women who love women. Though one could easily extrapolate Harge being resentful, cruel and bitter x 1,000 about Carol being far more interested in another woman than him. But his real issue seems to be his inability to control Carol’s life and that her desires and wants don’t lead to him. [ Nineteen year old Therese is instantaneously smitten by the sight of Carol. She wants to know more about her. Therese does not identify as lesbian. In fact it does n’t seem to cross her heed. She is dating a young man ( Richard ) who thinks he is in sleep together with her and she knows that she does n’t love him. Highsmith goes into capital detail about their relationship through their numerous encounters throughout the koran. While reading this at first base the extent of their back and forth seemed rather silly and asinine. But they are wholly necessity towards building an reason of what ‘s going on in Therese ‘s heed. Therese is 19 and in 1952 things for her should for the most character be settled. She is at the marry senesce and Richard thinks they belong together. He knows there is something not right with the relationship, but she has slept with him then he thinks they are on the marriage path. Therese knows there is something incorrectly besides, but barely thinks Richard is not the one for her. Therese has other male friends that appeal to her and she sometimes tries to imagines herself with them, but she comes to the conclusion that none of them are for her. Therese besides has a strained, estranged, about nonexistent relationship with her mother. She is captivated by Carol and sends a Christmas card to her along with her holy order from the storehouse. Carol intrigued by the act decides to thank her in person by taking her to dinner. A morsel of a dance begins with Carol inviting Therese to come over for the weekends and to assorted lunches and drinks after work. Through these meetings we see Carol through the eyes of Therese. A report told via chain smoke, whiskey and brandy. early on on Therese sees her as a woman who wants for nothing. The reader immediately sees a huge chain smoker who puts on airs and pretenses to the public. A poser. But as the fib progresses we see a profoundly infelicitous woman in the middle of a bitter, atrocious divorce battle involving the detention of her daughter Rindy. Carol suppresses a bunch of her emotions. She is always on. Always performing. person like Therese does n’t in truth have the biography experiences to see beyond the prove at first base. But the more they meet, the more she sees. Highsmith actually is quite fantastic at peeling back the layers. We do n’t get quite the see of Carol ‘s conserve ( Harge ) as we do of Richard, but in my opinion Highsmith does a nice job of not creating cardboard villains. All the characters have nuance. Carol ‘s history is that they fell out of love. somewhere along the marriage she stopped loving him. There was n’t an consequence etc. carol does have a history of lesbian encounters including one with her best friend Abby who does n’t appear to have gotten over Carol. The disassociate is about to be finalized when Carol decides she wants to travel hybrid nation and she wants Therese to go with her. road travel ! ! A couple of days into the tripper they become lovers. Therese is completely in sexual love and Carol while still melancholy, seems to be falling excessively. They experience a few weeks of togetherness before they discover that a detective is following them. Carol confronts him and finds out he is working for Harge and has enough evidence for him to get sole hands of her daughter. Carol goes bet on to New York for the divorce proceedings but leaves Therese in Iowa with the purpose of rejoining her after the hearing. A couple of months go by with Carol sort of one-half leading Therese on and one-half “ ghost ” her. Finally Carol asks explains that she lost the hands of Rindy and that in order to even see her, she has to eschew Therese and that “ life style ”. Carol ‘s life is wholly controlled by Harge. His hostage is Rindy. Therese tries to move on with her biography in New York without Carol. Carol asks her to lunch and tells her that the divorce is final examination and that since the divorce she has taken a occupation and wants Therese to move in with her. After everything that Carol has put her through, Therese balks. She attends a party and notices her attractions are to females. She tries to envision a life without Carol and seems to realize that there is that possibility…that she can have a life without Carol and be very well. But she besides knows that she is however very much in love with Carol. The end of the novel has the two deciding to be together. It is a bittersweet ending because by choosing to be with Therese, Harge can legally bar Carol from ever seeing Rindy. Therese views it as Carol choosing her over Rindy. In my mind Carol was not choosing Therese over Rindy, she was freeing herself literally from Harge and metaphorically from the burdens that company would impose upon her.One thing that I loved about the novel is that neither character seemed burdened by traditional conventions or perceptions of the time time period or flush by current standards. possibly unrealistic, but there was no drama associated with their reciprocal attraction to each other. There is no handwringing about who they are. No tearful proclamations like “ I ‘m a lesbian ! Why has the world forsaken me ? ! ? ” It ‘s a floor about a couple dealing with life as it comes at them. It feels like a koran about people breaking the ceremonious chains that bind them. The conflicts in these women ‘s lives stem from being women ; not from being women who love women. Though one could easily extrapolate Harge being resentful, barbarous and bitter ten 1,000 about Carol being far more interested in another woman than him. But his real return seems to be his inability to control Carol ‘s life and that her desires and wants wear ’ thymine conduct to him. ( hide spoiler )

The novel is quite thoughtful and handles the prickliest of subjects with great aplomb. The message is muddled, very much like real life. [ The novel is said to be a harbinger to Lolita. I can see the determine. early in the novel I was uncomfortable with the relationship between Therese and Carol. by and large because Therese is only 19 in the reserve. She is written as such and it very looks like an pornographic taking advantage of a young girlfriend with huge ma issues. And Carol is in the middle of a hands struggle for her own daughter. It ‘s not a leap to consider that Therese is a deputy for Rindy and Carol is more parental than partner. From there it ‘s a very short step to eeewww. ( hide spoiler )

Highsmith is masterful and has written a romance novel that is not about love or romance, but about finding and accepting who you are and the strengths needed to live with those truths. Or maybe it was a romance about life and how best to live it. We love who we love. In most cases (there are no absolutes) consenting adults should be able to love each other without judgement. This is a classic. For me, this resembled a sort of LGBT (disclaimer: Not comparing literary value or oppressions, just themes). Screw society and its restrictive conventions. Do you!

Almost 4.5 Stars

Read on kindle

Edited to Add: Lowered rating to 4. Upon reflection in comparison to other books and ratings this year, it doesn’t outshine many of my 4 star reads.

[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]>[“br”]> I picked up this reserve for Read Harder 2017 read an LGBT romanticism fresh. OK, therefore chat up books are not my music genre of choice. In fact they are my least favorite category of books. But this novel billed as a lesbian romanticism is neither and both at the same time. It is the opposite of this ( which in my understand is the criterion of LGBT romanticism music genre ) : It ‘s more a novel about people growing up, learning to love, and choosing to live their life sentence on their terms. This is credibly one of the more endow novels I ‘ve read this year. And by the direction, there is plenty of romance in the fresh a well, but like other romance novels ( that I like ) the substance is far larger than that.What makes this book written in 1952 so special is that it is one of those books that stands up to the test of time. Highsmith is identical smart and writes beautifully, affectingly and presents views that prescient and avant garde. This book was ahead of its time with character outlooks and points of view that seem contemporary. This is the history is about two women, Therese and Carol, who meet by chance in a department store at Christmas prison term. ( view spoiler ) The novel is quite heedful and handles the barbed of subjects with capital aplomb. The message is muddled, very much like real liveliness. ( view spoiler ) But we are in skilled hands with Highsmith. She handles this telling the narrative through Therese ‘s eyes. The reader views her personal growth. From her childish, romantic horizon of what love should be to her realization of the hard choices, truths and sacrifices that love requires. She starts out basically an green daughter but by the end of the fresh she has grown well. The alone penetration into Carol is through Therese ‘s eyes but there is an increase openness and consideration towards Therese that was n’t there initially. An recognition of maturity and growth.Highsmith is consummate and has written a romance novel that is not about sexual love or woo, but about find and accept who you are and the strengths needed to live with those truths. Or possibly it was a romance about life and how best to live it. We love who we love. In most cases ( there are no absolutes ) consenting adults should be able to love each other without judgment. This is a classic. For me, this resembled a kind of LGBT Their Eyes Were Watching God with very exchangeable themes about women finding independence and some measurement of happiness by taking duty for their unconventional choices. Screw company and its restrictive conventions. Do you ! Read on kindleLowered military rank to 4. Upon contemplation in comparison to other books and ratings this year, it does n’t outshine many of my 4 ace reads. [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] >