Fiction

The Price of Salt

The Price of Salt

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  • Create Date：2021-04-28 11:57:33
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Patricia Highsmith
  • ISBN：0393325997
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Summary

Arguably Patricia Highsmith's finest， The Price of Salt is the story of Therese Belivet， a stage designer trapped in a department-store day job， whose salvation arrives one day in the form of Carol Aird， an alluring suburban housewife in the throes of a divorce。 They fall in love and set out across the United States， pursued by a private investigator who eventually blackmails Carol into a choice between her daughter and her lover。 With this reissue， The Price of Salt may finally be recognized as a major twentieth-century American novel。

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Reviews

Ffion ，

Giving it five stars because the movie is my favourite film of all time and I can’t thank Patricia Highsmith enough for giving me Carol Aird。 I do think the movie is better but I think that’s down to the actress Cate Blanchett who is just mesmerising as Carol。 So in love

aya ，

LETS GO LESBIANS LETS GO

August ，

1。5 starsI didn't enjoy this book at all until the final 5ish chapters。 I found it hard to read and it moved very slow。 Once the end came， the book started moving faster and got more interesting。 I liked the ending more than I thought I would。 Nice lesbian rep though。 1。5 starsI didn't enjoy this book at all until the final 5ish chapters。 I found it hard to read and it moved very slow。 Once the end came， the book started moving faster and got more interesting。 I liked the ending more than I thought I would。 Nice lesbian rep though。 。。。more

Anna Gibson ，

I've never read anything by Patricia Highsmith， and after finishing The Price of Salt/Carol， I wonder what else I have been missing out on。Mundane and soft and sad and enthralling。 Told from the point of view of 19-year old Therese， the seemingly mundane events （working， lunch， tea， road trip， conversations about maps） become intense beyond belief。 I will fully admit that I don't personally understand how the ending is viewed as particularly happy。 （view spoiler）[Both Carol and Therese are tumul I've never read anything by Patricia Highsmith， and after finishing The Price of Salt/Carol， I wonder what else I have been missing out on。Mundane and soft and sad and enthralling。 Told from the point of view of 19-year old Therese， the seemingly mundane events （working， lunch， tea， road trip， conversations about maps） become intense beyond belief。 I will fully admit that I don't personally understand how the ending is viewed as particularly happy。 （view spoiler）[Both Carol and Therese are tumultuous， often selfish people who casually hurt others based on whims and whose relationship is rooted in an intense infatuation that does not seem healthy for either of them。 Carol is both condescendingly maternalistic and romantic， critical with sharpened barbs or deliberate aloofness。 Therese throws away relationships and behaves recklessly， to the detriment of others。 Carol， in the end， shrugs off the fact that a continued relationship with Therese will effectively end her relationship with her child。 Therese is only 19 and as Carol regularly points out， has not truly lived yet。 Therese is （like many people on that cusp of just-entering-adulthood） sensitive， prone to wishing she and Carol are buried together in landslides or viewing Carol's slight shifts in moods as something to make her freeze and wilt。 I can't see their relationship working out， in the long run。 But--just because I think their relationship is doomed doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the book， of course。 Sometimes， fiction just has to have a bitter（sweet？） ending。 （hide spoiler）]"It shook Therese in the profoundest part of her where now words were， no easy words like death or dying or killing。 Those words were somehow future， and this was present。 An inarticulate anxiety， a desire to know， know anything， for certain， had jammed itself in her throat so for a moment she felt she could hardly breathe。 Do you think， do you think， it began。 Do you think both of us will die violently someday， be suddenly shut off？ But even that question wasn't definite enough。 Perhaps it was a statement after all: I don't want to die without knowing you。 do you feel the same way， Carol？ She could have uttered the last question， but she could not have said all that went before it。" 。。。more

Lauren Putt ，

Highsmith is so great at building suspense。 Here is a love story with a truly happy ending。 Carol and Therese's relationship is a mixture of cuteness， intensity and contradiction。 Highsmith is so great at building suspense。 Here is a love story with a truly happy ending。 Carol and Therese's relationship is a mixture of cuteness， intensity and contradiction。 。。。more

Natalie Pillion ，

The writing in this book was very melodious and the small details that Therese is surrounded by are talked about in a beautiful way。 It was interesting to watch her become more at home in her body and be more sure of her position in the world as someone who loved a woman。 That being said， I found Carol's character rather unsettling most of the book。 Though I understand why she was that way， I never fully trusted her。 There was also the problem of the age difference， them meeting when Therese was The writing in this book was very melodious and the small details that Therese is surrounded by are talked about in a beautiful way。 It was interesting to watch her become more at home in her body and be more sure of her position in the world as someone who loved a woman。 That being said， I found Carol's character rather unsettling most of the book。 Though I understand why she was that way， I never fully trusted her。 There was also the problem of the age difference， them meeting when Therese was 19 and Carol in her 30's。 There also is not much of a plot and rather more of a character study， which isn't necessarily bad and kept me expectant。 I have a lot of conflicting takeaways from this book but overall found it an enjoyable read。 。。。more

saindabi ，

Genuinely don't know where to even begin in reviewing The Price of Salt。。。 I have so many thoughts but I think I'm going to keep this quite short。 Starting with mentioning the film cause most of the time I've seen the movie adaptation before reading the novel: I watched Carol a little over a year ago and I really liked it， the performances were great （don't really like Cate Blanchett though but her performance was quite good， I do love Rooney Mara though）， the production and cinematography were Genuinely don't know where to even begin in reviewing The Price of Salt。。。 I have so many thoughts but I think I'm going to keep this quite short。 Starting with mentioning the film cause most of the time I've seen the movie adaptation before reading the novel: I watched Carol a little over a year ago and I really liked it， the performances were great （don't really like Cate Blanchett though but her performance was quite good， I do love Rooney Mara though）， the production and cinematography were stellar and so was the direction。 I liked it， but I wouldn't say it's one of my favourite films， unless I change my mind upon a rewatch。 This book was quite an easy read， which isn't something I'd have expected from a novel written in the 50's。 I loved the writing style for the most part and I adore the characters。 Therese Belivet and Carol Aird are the types of characters you sort of find yourself becoming infatuated with while and after reading this novel– both are extremely well-written， complex characters。 I also really loved that there were no sections of the novels where Therese or Carol were ashamed about being a lesbian or their relationship， which is not something that's quite common during the period of time this was written in。 I think that also has to do with the fact that this novel is based on Patricia Highsmith's relationship and it's something deeply personal to her。 Overall， I thoroughly enjoyed this， I loved the messiness of the characters and their story and I'm looking forward to rewatching the film after learning more about the characters after reading this。 Also， I found out that Patricia Highsmith renamed the book to Carol after it was republished because she liked the obsessive nature of naming it after someone and I think that really changed the whole perspective of the book for me （in a good way cause I love the whole obsessive nature thing） because as readers， we mostly read Therese's thoughts， even though the novel is in the third person。 We're never alone with Carol's thoughts， the novel starts with Therese and follows her and ends with her。 。。。more

Karoliny Padela ，

Por ser um romance lésbico publicado nos anos 50， foi uma surpresa feliz ver que toda a fase da “confusão” de se descobrir e se assumir não é pautada como um problema pessoal para as personagens。 Elas sentem e sabem。 Therese talvez seja muito intensa e doidinha， mas foi gostoso estar na cabeça dela por um tempo。 Tempo suficiente pra eu sair de lá apaixonada pela Carol。Spoiler do bem: TEM FINAL FELIZ e foi o pioneiro nisso！

Katrina D Ramos ，

Supposed to be a cult classic but the characters were absolutely intolerably obnoxious。 I don't get the appeal at all。 Supposed to be a cult classic but the characters were absolutely intolerably obnoxious。 I don't get the appeal at all。 。。。more

Katherine Thelander ，

i do think the movie is a fantastic adaptation。 some of the more florid descriptions here didn’t work for me， i’d rather cate blanchett silently stare at me for an hour

Lili ，

v stunningly written

Graff Fuller ，

I watched the movie before knowing thay it was based on a book。 The adaptation that had Cate Blanchett portraying Carol and Rooney Mara portraying Theresa。 From what I remember， the movie obvious truncate the book， but does the book justice。Whenever I realize a book is being made into a movie， I try to read the book first， THEN see the movie。 Usually it creates the best viewing experience IMO。 We all know that books by their function ALWAYS have MORE information。。。so for me， it is great to see t I watched the movie before knowing thay it was based on a book。 The adaptation that had Cate Blanchett portraying Carol and Rooney Mara portraying Theresa。 From what I remember， the movie obvious truncate the book， but does the book justice。Whenever I realize a book is being made into a movie， I try to read the book first， THEN see the movie。 Usually it creates the best viewing experience IMO。 We all know that books by their function ALWAYS have MORE information。。。so for me， it is great to see the vision of the screen writer， director and cinematographer to see what they perceived as the best way to shoot the book in the visual format。 I know others feel that the book ruins the film， but for me， it rarely does。I love movies， and two different crews can read the SAME book and make a visually unique film that still honors the text。 That is magical。Also， if the movie isn't good， I still have the book （as my first entry into the story）。 All that said。。。this time I did it the opposite way。 Saw the movie， THEN found out there was a book。 So， I gave it some time。。。and read it today I really enjoyed it。 Sadly （but obviously）， I cast the actors that played the roles in the movie， but it wasn't bad， for they were both beautifully cast for their roles。 The story is fuller and goes more in depth with the love and the hardship。 Very well done， both the book and the movie。 。。。more

Katie McCandless ，

Descriptions of the cocktails notwithstanding， I found most of this book to be agonizingly tedious， sort of like reluctantly listening to a friend work through all the boring details of a breakup analysis。 Parts of it read like a slow-motion play-by-play in excruciating detail， with none of the sexy tension and fizz of other slow burn "historical" romances。 Also， Carol is an asshole and Therese is an idiot， neither in an interesting unlikable protagonist kind of way。 Descriptions of the cocktails notwithstanding， I found most of this book to be agonizingly tedious， sort of like reluctantly listening to a friend work through all the boring details of a breakup analysis。 Parts of it read like a slow-motion play-by-play in excruciating detail， with none of the sexy tension and fizz of other slow burn "historical" romances。 Also， Carol is an asshole and Therese is an idiot， neither in an interesting unlikable protagonist kind of way。 。。。more

Lesley ，

Patricia Highsmith is mythologised as a callous misogynist， riddled with internalised homophobia。 In ‘Carol’ two women fall in love， break free of husbands and boyfriends， and get a happy or at least hopeful ending - highly subversive in the early 1950s。 This was Highsmith’s second novel， initially rejected by her publishers due to the content， so she negotiated to have it published under a pseudonym。 This determination to have her lesbian romance in print doesn’t exactly scream ‘internalised ho Patricia Highsmith is mythologised as a callous misogynist， riddled with internalised homophobia。 In ‘Carol’ two women fall in love， break free of husbands and boyfriends， and get a happy or at least hopeful ending - highly subversive in the early 1950s。 This was Highsmith’s second novel， initially rejected by her publishers due to the content， so she negotiated to have it published under a pseudonym。 This determination to have her lesbian romance in print doesn’t exactly scream ‘internalised homophobia’ to me。Romance isn’t the right word of course。 While there’s the prolonged delicious tease of Carol and Therese’s early meetings leading to their brief-taste-of-freedom roadtrip， the shadow of Carol’s custody battle for her daughter with her ex-husband looms ever darker - a very real issue for lesbian mothers， upon whom the law has never looked kindly， to say the least。 Carol fights not against the law， but shame。 She refuses to be ashamed， and rejects the prevailing morality that says she must choose between her daughter and her lover。 Again， I’m not getting a huge internalised homophobia vibe here。 Story， social context and Pat’s personal issues aside， it’s just a beautifully crafted novel。 The prose is so lean， every detail and nuance counts; so much held back between the two women and between the author and reader， briefly interspersed with intense joy， tenderness， grief， anxiety; the pace slows and quickens perfectly， the imagery is haunting， Carol’s gorgeously infuriating character indelible。 “My New Year’s Eve Toast: to all the devils， lusts， passions， greeds， envies， loves， hates， strange desires， enemies ghostly and real， the army of memories， with which I do battle — may they never give me peace。” 。。。more

Elaine ，

Wow， it might not be the best written book but it still blew me away。I saw the movie version and it was just another lesbian film， my jaded interpretation。 During a book club it was fact checked as being written in 1952。。。I decided to read the book as the writer intended it be be experienced。 Yes it was true to how life was like then。 The simplicity of finding one person who understands and not letting go。 The strength of the characters as in real life。 The loneliness and inter turmoil， it reall Wow， it might not be the best written book but it still blew me away。I saw the movie version and it was just another lesbian film， my jaded interpretation。 During a book club it was fact checked as being written in 1952。。。I decided to read the book as the writer intended it be be experienced。 Yes it was true to how life was like then。 The simplicity of finding one person who understands and not letting go。 The strength of the characters as in real life。 The loneliness and inter turmoil， it really took me back decades。 。。。more

Onuma B ，

เรื่องราวความเหงาของผู้หญิงสองคนที่บังเอิญมาเจอกันท่ามกลางเมืองใหญ่ ให้อารมณ์และความรู้สึกฟุ้งฝัน และโรแมนติก การบรรยายภาพพจน์ในเรื่องดีมาก ละมุน หวานๆ ฉากอีโรติกบรรยายได้อย่างดีงาม อ่านแล้วเข้าอกเข้าใจถึงความรู้สึกของหญิงรักหญิงอีกเช่นกัน จัดว่าเป็นหนังสือที่มาในเวลาอันเหมาะเจาะ （อ่านห้องของโจวันนีจบแล้ว） ได้เห็นมุมมองชีวิตของคนที่เป็น LGBTQ ชอบเรื่องนี้

Katharina Bieniecka ，

booooooring

Marnie ，

This book made me even more insecure about my ankles than I already am。

Mark Porton ，

I think friendships are the result of certain needs that can be completely hidden from both people， sometimes hidden forever。This review is a bit tricky because I don’t want to give anything away。 Carol， by the sublime Patricia Highsmith did not disappoint。 The story centres around a young woman called Therese， who is a theatre set designer but currently working at a store in the crazy world of the toy department at Christmas time。 Something I would have liked I reckon – hard work， but imagine t I think friendships are the result of certain needs that can be completely hidden from both people， sometimes hidden forever。This review is a bit tricky because I don’t want to give anything away。 Carol， by the sublime Patricia Highsmith did not disappoint。 The story centres around a young woman called Therese， who is a theatre set designer but currently working at a store in the crazy world of the toy department at Christmas time。 Something I would have liked I reckon – hard work， but imagine the buzz！ Anyway， Therese spends her day working hard， mostly confused， suffering under the humourless conduct of the supercilious supervisors – then one day， the beautiful Carol comes in to buy a doll。 It sounds like a small event doesn’t it？ BUT – Therese is walloped into orbit by this stylish， mature woman。 She is totally captivated by her style， presence， eyes， smell， clothes （everything！！！）， she must contact her。 She does this by sending her a Christmas card。 This is when the drama starts。 That’s all I need to say about the storyline。This suffocatingly， dark offering from Highsmith is engrossing。 I deliberately didn’t read anything about this story before picking it up （Highsmith was enough） and if you haven’t read this， I would gently suggest you do the same。 So， what are we dealing with here？ Is it all about obsession？ Well there is certainly that – Therese’s fixation with Carol is obvious。 Is it love or is it some sort of psychopathic preoccupation？ The reader doesn’t know – we are left guessing， wondering。 This is a very uneasy read。 Does one want the best for Carol and Therese？ Not really， even though they’re not disagreeable characters – we still don’t really know what they’re about， what do they want from this relationship？ There’s the rub。My word， I found the last 60 or 70 pages totally engrossing。 Towards the end， I even put the book down a few times to do something trivial like rearrange my bedside table， or play with my dog’s ears， or brush my teeth for the second time。 I am being totally truthful here – I just did not want it to end。Well， end it did。 It wasn’t disappointing。 Hopefully I’ve said enough but not too much。5 StarsFootnote: This is the second book in a row （The other being Terms of Endearment） where a Pet Goat features。 What are the chances of that happening？ 。。。more

Ruby Hammonds ，

A phenomenal book。 It was not predictable and the characters aren’t perfect。 I would definitely recommend it。

matty creen ，

wonderful ending I wish that about 25 percent of what’s in the book was edited out。 I think it would’ve made it a more engaging read。 That ending， though。。。

Ana Leite ，

A experiência de ser lésbica está toda aqui。 100%。（Se a Carol me aparecesse à frente eu desmaiava。 Que rainha。）

Jelka ，

Why would you write this， Patricia？Even though there was a potential "happy-end"， this was depressing。 Why would you write this， Patricia？Even though there was a potential "happy-end"， this was depressing。 。。。more

Bailey ，

Huh。 // 3。5？The novel that my favorite film is based upon--I have mixed feelings。 Some of the phrases in this book were beautiful and I found the eery， understated desire to be so interesting。 However， I can't say I loved it。 I stand by that the film adaption， Carol， is the better version of this story。 （and who doesn't love Cate Blanchett？） Huh。 // 3。5？The novel that my favorite film is based upon--I have mixed feelings。 Some of the phrases in this book were beautiful and I found the eery， understated desire to be so interesting。 However， I can't say I loved it。 I stand by that the film adaption， Carol， is the better version of this story。 （and who doesn't love Cate Blanchett？） 。。。more

George ，

A well written atmospheric love story set in the early 1950s， mostly in New York。 Therese is 19 years old， a stage set designer， who finds temporary work as a sales assistant selling dolls in a New York department store。 She notices a beautiful， alluring woman in her thirties。 The woman， Carol， buys a doll for her daughter。 Therese sends a note to Carol and they meet and become the very best of friends。 Carol is in the process of divorcing her husband but complications arise when Carol’s husband A well written atmospheric love story set in the early 1950s， mostly in New York。 Therese is 19 years old， a stage set designer， who finds temporary work as a sales assistant selling dolls in a New York department store。 She notices a beautiful， alluring woman in her thirties。 The woman， Carol， buys a doll for her daughter。 Therese sends a note to Carol and they meet and become the very best of friends。 Carol is in the process of divorcing her husband but complications arise when Carol’s husband finds out about Carol’s affair with Therese。I particularly enjoyed the last third of this novel。 A very worthwhile reading experience。 。。。more

leilani ，

4。5 💘💘

Catalina CM ，

Es una libro lento， no conocemos a Carol hasta aproximadamente el 4 capitulo。 Es interesante en el sentido que vislumbra como eran las relaciones en los años 1950-60

Amelia ，

Bardzo podobał mi się styl pisania autorki。 Opowieść nie była jakaś mega ciekawa， ale coś w niej uchwyciło moją uwagę i dlatego mogę ją z całego serca polecić

Elaine ，

Good story and wonderful setting， rich with details of time and place。 A romance made tragic by the homophobic views of the time。 To be told who you can and can’t love - unimaginable。 Therese’s character at times was a bit cloying and needy but I think that was intentional as she was young and immature。 I loved seeing the woman she became。

Ella ，

Really liked this。 Intentionally slow at the start。 Captures first love really well

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Price of Salt

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Price of Salt&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Price of Salt&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0