The Librarian's Husband's Book Club discussion

Welcome to the discussion space for our April 2025 book selection, The Talented Mr. Ripley!

As we read, feel free to share your thoughts, insights, and reactions. To keep the experience spoiler-free for everyone, please use the spoiler function when discussing key plot points. Happy reading!

spoiler: (view spoiler)[ It looks like this :) (hide spoiler)]

Started today....so far so good.

Did anyone find Tom just adding himself effortlessly into Dickie and Marges lives a little too unnatural? Lol instant friends

Only 3 chapters in and questioning Tom, a lot.

Tiffany wrote: "Only 3 chapters in and questioning Tom, a lot."

:) That doesn't change

What year is this book set in?

And yes, it seemed very seamless for Tom to insert himself into Dickie’s life.

I find this book vaguely creepy… well tom vaguely creepy. I have never seen this movie, or series.

Btw, now that I’m reading this I’m curious how they get all Tom’s thoughts out on film unless he talks out loud to himself constantly!

Julie wrote: "What year is this book set in?

And yes, it seemed very seamless for Tom to insert himself into Dickie’s life.

I find this book vaguely creepy… well tom vaguely creepy. I have never seen this mo..."


I believe its the 1950s somewhere right? Tom is a subtle looney tune for sure haha I watched the movie for the first time after finishing this one. The movie was a bit more obvious in that

Finally got this one and read ch1 so far. Not much action yet tho. I cant believe i never knew this was a book and that it came out in the 50s though! Ha! (Setting makes sense though) )
I loved the movie from the 90s!

Julie wrote: "What year is this book set in?

And yes, it seemed very seamless for Tom to insert himself into Dickie’s life.

I find this book vaguely creepy… well tom vaguely creepy. I have never seen this mo..."
1955- i just looked 😅👍

So, I kinda feel sympathetic to Tom. Am I alone then?
At Chapter 11

I mean, the trying on of Dickie's clothes and impersonating Dickie was a little weird, and , unless i missed it, Dickie never suggests Tom should wear his clothes. But i don't remember it being AS bad in the movie. I mean, it was still bad, but like, Dickie had been pushing Tom to try his clothes, no? I felt Tom was just kind of in a difficult situation, and struggles with things, and i sympathized, or even empathized.

He is just trying to navigate his world and has social awkwardness.
And while i wouldn't say i dont like redheads (oh Tom! Lol), i was also super uncomfortable with Freddie in the movie, and frankly, get nervous about people in general, asking myself if they like me or not and all that. So yeah, i can relate and sympathize with Tom. Also, i didn't know that bit about his aunt. She was pretty mean. Am i really alone? Like what makes this creepy for folks? I never got that until later on, with the more obvious things, which i havent read yet. 😅🤷‍♀️

I forgot about Tom's prank calls for checks earlier in the story. Either i didnt understand it in the movie or it was left out. That was definitely weird and criminal! And obviously, in hindsight, i can see things, but while i was seeing the story for the first time, i had no clue he was anyone to be concerned about.

April wrote: "I forgot about Tom's prank calls for checks earlier in the story. Either i didnt understand it in the movie or it was left out. That was definitely weird and criminal! And obviously, in hindsight, ..."

For me the book made Tom much more creepy than Matt Damon did in the movie. But oh my, he just gave me the weirdest vibes. And I was trying to put him into something I could understand and it just never ever happened for me. I did not like him. I also, agree, though I was not a fan of Freddie.