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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780393332117
ISBN number: 039333211X
Label: W. W. Norton
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 336
Printing Date: September 29, 2008
Publishing house: W. W. Norton
Sale Popularity Level: 318592
Studio: W. W. Norton
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'Ripley is an unmistakable descendant of Gatsby, that 'penniless young man without a past' who will stop at nothing.'—Frank Rich
Now part of American film and literary lore, Tom Ripley, 'a bisexual psychopath and art forger who murders without remorse when his comforts are threatened' (New York Times Book Review), was Patricia Highsmith's favorite creation. In The Boy Who Followed Ripley (1980), Highsmith explores Ripley's bizarrely paternal relationship with a troubled young runaway, whose abduction draws them into Berlin's seamy underworld. More than any other American literary character, Ripley provides 'a lens to peer into the sinister machinations of human behavior' (John Freeman, Pittsburgh Gazette).
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Rated by buyers 
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"The Boy Who Followed Ripley," very first published in 1980 by Patricia Highsmith, is fourth in her esteemed five-book Ripley saga, known to its enthusiasts as the Ripliad. Like the others, it's about her anti-hero Tom Ripley, con-man, forger, murderer, moderately-loving husband of a beautiful French heiress, and owner of a pleasant French estate. He's a character whom the larger audience only now has very first discovered in Anthony Minghella's recent film, "The Talented Mr. Ripley," that starred Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow. I very first read the Ripley series many years ago, and had substantially forgotten it; so came to subscribe, as many readers do, to the theory of diminishing returns in regard to it: that is, that as the series went on, it got weaker. That theory is largely true, but I'd be the very first to admit that "The Boy," is a much stronger entry than I'd remembered.
It concerns a 15-year old American boy from a plutocratic family, Frank Pierson. The boy is troubled by the recent violent death of his multi-millionaire father, and by unrequited love for a girl named Teresa; so steals his older brother Johnny's passport and takes off for Europe to find Ripley, whom he seems to believe can somehow help him.
And Ripley tries, he really does: he goes to great lengths, literally - Paris, Berlin, Hamburg, New York, and Kennebunkport, Maine-- and metaphorically, to try to help Pierson. I found it particularly noteworthy that Highsmith sets some of the strongest, most interesting suspense in Berlin, where/when the famed wall that separated the city into eastern and western districts still stood. By doing so, she's venturing into her great contemporary, British spymaster John LeCarre's comfort zone, and favorite setting, the German-speaking world, and especially cold war Berlin, that quintessential city of spies, as LeCarre would tell you. Mind you, she's not telling a spy story in Berlin: but certainly a story dependent on misdirection, disguises, kidnapping, and secrets. Highsmith is also telling a story that ventures further into the twilight homosexual world than any other of hers that I've read. If Ripley doesn't love this boy, he's sure awful fond of him. And on the boy's behalf, Ripley is pleased to go, in drag, into one of Berlin's most notorious gay nightclubs, "Hump."
Highsmith was, of course, an American - a Texan--who chose to live in Europe herself. She was a prolific author, who produced a large body of work, suspenseful and unsettling, and during her lifetime was more popular in Europe than her home country. She's best known for her masterwork, "Strangers on a Train," that was filmed by Alfred Hitchcock, and for her Ripley series.
Rated by buyers -
Patricia Highsmith is the master of unease. She has created a literary character who is almost completely amoral, and twists the readers' sense of justice because we find oursevles rooting for Tom Ripley; we do not want him to get caught in his devious schemes. The same is the case for the fourth book in the series, "The Boy Who Followed Ripley", as Tom once more finds himself caught up in a dangerous affair.
Tom, now married and settled in a small town just south of Paris, is living a somewhat peaceful, idle life. Then one day he encounters a young American boy, who is on the run from a horrible secret, and who looks to Tom out for guidance. Perhaps Tom recognizes something of himself in the boy, for he immediately and almost without question becomes the boy's protector and teacher. When the wealthy young heir is kidnapped right under Tom's nose in Berlin, he takes it upon himself to beat the kidnappers at their game, rushing headfirst and almost unthinkingly into the seemy underbelly of Berlin life.
"The Boy Who Followed Ripley" is as fast-paced as the other novels in the Ripley series, but is rather mundane in its plot. Just as quickly as Tom becomes attached to the boy, he is able to disengage himself from the messiness their association brings him. And while Highsmith is an excellent writer of mystery, offering readers a peek into the sordid world of criminals, this story lacks the polish and tenacity of the other Ripley works. It is a worthy addition, as it shows a more tender side of Tom Ripley, as he finds himself on the losing side for the very first time in quite a while, but it is definitely not the strongest in the series.
Rated by buyers 
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One day in Villeperce, Tom Ripley is followed by an American teen-aged boy of 16 who calls himself Billy Rollins. He is currently working as a gardener with Madame Jeanne Boutin and claims to have read about Tom Ripley in the newspapers in the States. But Tom soon discovers that the boy is in fact Frank Pierson, the son of an American food magnate from Maine, who detested his father so profoundly that he killed him by pushing his wheelchair over the top of a cliff. Frank's mother Lily sent a private detective to France to look for the missing son...
A weak story line, unbelievable situations, characters who behave in a ridiculous fashion and plenty of clichés about Germany, Berlin and the gay scene are all aspects which contribute to the bad quality of this poorly designed suspense story. Neither "The Boy Who Followed Ripley" nor "Ripley Underground" nor "Ripley Underwater" match the original "The Talented Mr Ripley". Readers would be well advised to enjoy the latter and then forget any novel bearing the name "Ripley".
Rated by buyers -
Out of all the Ripley novels, this being the last instalment of a series of five books focuses more on the central psychological issue that most of the stories touch upon, and that is, having to live with oneself after committing a terrible crime, in this case, murder.
If you are acquainted with any of the Ripley novels, you will understand that their uniqueness lies in the disturbing thoughts and behaviour of its protagonist, as he is thoroughly devoid of conscience, having the capacity to commit murder, usually on a spontaneous whim, and rationalize the crime to such an extent, that we the readers, are totally convinced that the crime was justified. Ripley is a highly likable villain, and a type of villain we want to see succeed. He is cultured, well-mannered, loves his beautiful wife, an expert gardener, appreciates fine art, music and beautiful things, but is capable of incredible heinous acts without a second thought.
In this last novel, Ripley is living quite comfortably at Belle Ombre, his beautiful home in Villeperce, and seems to be heading for an easy retirement. At the café in town, a strange boy turns up, and through a series of events, the two become good friends. As it turns out, the boy is a runaway from the United States, a member of a wealthy family. The boy has a terrible secret, he has committed murder, and he's on the run from his a family and his conscience.
As the tale progresses, Ripley takes on the role of mentor, having murdered many times before, perhaps unconsciously or not, guides the boy psychologically towards a frame of mind or attitude, in order to live with murder. Ripley has the capacity to compartmentalize his thoughts, push his conscience conveniently aside, in order to live with himself. The young lad seems to have the same psychological predisposition, but as the story unfolds, the boy's behaviour points otherwise.
This last Ripley novel is different because Ripley takes on the role of mentor and rescuer, saving the boy from the clutches of some unsavoury characters, performing his unique brand of violence which surprises, leaving the reader cold. But in his role as saviour, we cheer him as he commits these unspeakable acts.
For me at least, the ending of the novel was not predictable, it was both surprising and incredibly sad on many levels. Most of all, this book is disturbing, illustrating the fact that as human beings, we have the capacity to justify virtually anything, including murder.
Rated by buyers -
The Boy Who Followed Ripley will either be your favorite Ripley book or it will be a large disappointment.
If you have not read any Ripley books, I suggest that you start with The Talented Mr. Ripley instead.
Those who will be disappointed by this book will be people who wanted a book just like one of the very first three in the series. Those who will be very pleased are those who want to think through the implications of Ripley's character and who he is becoming. I have graded the book as an average of the two likely reactions.
We see a new side of Ripley in this book. He takes a troubled American teen under his wing and mentors him in the way that a friendly uncle or much older brother might. In the process, Ripley reveals more of himself to the boy than to anyone else. Ripley also ends up musing and seeing his own marriage and history in a new light as he understands the boy's problems.
I'm sorry that I cannot go into the story in more detail. To do so would simply spoil the plot development for you.
If you like character development with long stretches of little plot development, this book will be a lot of fun. If you crave the constant action of The Talented Mr. Ripley, this book will drag slowly in long sections for you.
Unless you are ambivalent about the Tom Ripley character, I do suggest that you read the book . . . even if it won't be your favorite.
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