The Price of Salt

A truly remarkable book! Of love and longing and the fear of abandonment, admirably written.

I had read two books by Ms. Highsmith and knew of her influence in The work of Alfred Hitchcock, so when her short stories were recently published, I purchased the book. After subsequently reading a review of the movie,"Carol", I could not resist buying this novel. Cate Blanchett who plays Carol in the movie, is an amazing actress and I can only imagine the genius she will bring to Carol. I do understand, however that the young woman who plays our protagonist, Therese, is dazzling! How could one not be blown away by this novel? The building of the characters and the relationship is slow and seems key to the era and the turbulent social upheaval the women are going to be thrown into even contemplating a lesbian relationship in the 1950's! Carol, I read in other reviews seems cold and distant to some. To me, Carol seems the leveling force, the rudder in the relationship, and her understanding of the perils they face is much more sophisticated than that of Therese who wishes only to possess Carol at that point. This makes Carol the wiser of the two of course. Not conniving, not sly, not laying traps for the "innocent". She suggests the trip, but seems to wait for Therese to know her better and waits for There's to feel comfortable enough to make the first move. I believe that Carol's love was deeper and more meaningful because she was older, knew the dangers inherent in the world they would enter after this trip, and she had experienced something like it before. The supporting characters were perfect I thought. Poor Richard seemed rather full of himself, and came to adore Therese too lat, then was abhorred by the idea, the mere thought of the two of them together. And Dannie, so attracted to the innocent Therese, was certain she would overcome this distraction, come to her senses and was willing to wait for that, perhaps a few months. Carol had Herge, the jilted husband to deal with, who took every advantage Carol's love for Therese afforded him. He carried out the ...