Ms. Hen reviews The Price of Salt

 

The Price of Salt

Patricia Highsmith

Coward McCann, Inc.

1952

Ms. Hen discovered this book because she was researching banned books, and this one came up. Ms. Hen is interested in banned books because she likes to know what people in power don't want the public to read, since those are usually the most interesting books. She read another banned book recently, AUGUST IS A WICKED MONTH, and she liked it, and she wanted more like that.

This novel is about a young woman named Therese who works at a department store, but wants to be a set designer for the theater. A woman comes in to buy a doll for her daughter, and Therese decides to send her a Christmas card. Carol and she have lunch, and Therese becomes fixated on her. Carol is about to get a divorce from her husband.

Therese's boyfriend, Richard wants her to go to Europe with him in the spring. She likes his family, but wants to spend time with Carol. Carol asks Therese if she wants to go on a trip with her, and Therese says yes. Richard is upset. Therese and Carol drive west, and have an affair. Carol's husband does not want her to have custody of their daughter, Rindy.

Ms. Hen does not this this book is very risque or graphic compared to today's standards, but she understands why it was controversial in its time. Two women having an affair would have been a scandal in 1952. Ms. Hen read that this was the first and one of the only lesbian novels to have a happy ending. Ms. Hen isn't sure it's a happy ending, it's more bittersweet.

Ms. Hen thought this book reminded her of a few different books. It has essences of CATCHER IN THE RYE, in the way that the character is young and confused about what she wants in her life. Ms. Hen thought that Therese and Holden Caulfield could have walked by each other on the street in New York. It also reminds Ms. Hen of THE STRANGER by Albert Camus, since the character is detached and possibly pathological. The travel scenes make Ms. Hen think of ON THE ROAD.

Ms. Hen liked this book, even though she didn't really understand the character. She is aloof, and is single-minded, all she wants is Carol. Ms. Hen doesn't understand what is it about Carol that she falls in love with, but some things have no explanation.

Ms. Hen watched the film CAROL, which is based on this book, right after she read it. She thinks this is a fantastic film, and might be better than the book, if that's possible. The cinematography brought the 1950s to life, and Ms. Hen was transported back in time. The actors were fantastic also, with Cate Blanchett in the lead role.

Ms. Hen enjoyed this novel, and she understands why it was banned, but she doesn't think books should be banned, because people will just want them more. Ms. Hen dreams of one day writing a banned book to bring people into a frenzy. Ms. Hen dreams of a lot of things, and she hopes some of them might come true.