I picked up The Talented Mr. Ripley for two reasons:
1) The Guardian put it on its recent list of the 100 best English language novels*; and
2) A recent entry in the New York Times’ Modern Love column called reading it “As satisfying as any sexual intimacy”**

I’m not sure it meets either of those marks but it was excellent all the same. Tom Ripley is a fascinating and pitiable character. I did not realize this is a series but I borrowed the next one from my parents, much to the shame of my stack of library books. I also did not realize this would be a very queer book! It actually has much in common with my last entry, Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl, in the realm of deception, self-confidence, self-image, mischaracterization of queer identity, belonging, longing and being a travel novel. Unlike Paul etc., it might be a perfect beach novel as much of it seems to take place on beaches. Sorry to the library for all the sand this copy will return with.

*Found here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/ng-interactive/2026/may/12/the-100-best-novels-of-all-time
I have read very few of these books and do not have much of an opinion of the list. I haven’t even heard of a lot of them to be honest!

**Found here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/10/style/modern-love-a-stranger-invited-me-into-my-own-bed.html
I misremembered this quote as being actually better than any sexual intimacy, and also missed the significance of the context that the author read it *in Italy;* the book is set in Italy and extremely Italian in nature. I do not think that gets it over the sex benchmark but I do think it would be amazing to read there.

Moby Dyke