Right off the bat, I will admit that this is not one of my favorite Highsmith novels. It's a departure from her usual stuff, which is okay, but she really wasn't all that terrific at putting together an existential whodunit novel which, when all is said and done, describes what I think she was attempting with A Game for the Living. I'm not the only one who has an issue with this book -- according to her biographer, Andrew Wilson, Highsmith herself "came to regard A Game for the Living ... as one of her worst novels," and she wrote in her Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction that this novel "was the only really dull book I have written." As the book begins, you actually do find yourself in Highsmith land. Set in Mexico, two very different men are in love with the same woman, both are her lovers, and both are very civilized about the whole thing. She is also very accommodating; there are no fights between the two men (who are friends), and everyone seems to accept the situation as it is. But, when one of the men returns home from a trip and finds her dead in bed, things start to change. He, Theodore, is positive that the other man, Ramón, is Lelia's murderer -- after all, he knows that Ramón is prone to violent outbursts. Theodore has even come between the two a few times when Ramón was on the verge of hitting her. Ramón had also said that someday he'd "give her up" or "kill himself." Theodore also realizes that "between killing oneself and killing the object of one's passion was not much difference...Psychologically, they equated sometimes."The two do a sort of mental and emotional dance wondering if the other one is guilty, and matters don't improve when Ramón decides to confess. But far from being the end of the story, his confession is actually just the beginning. The limits of friendship are constantly tested in this novel; Highsmith also uses the novel to explore the nature of guilt. It's also a book that examines religious belief (which I enjoyed) and art (which I also enjoyed). Yet, while many of these same themes are to be found in her other novels, looking at it as whole, the book as a whole is a kind of a trainwreck of poor plotting, very little in the way of character development outside of the two main characters, and a lack of intensity that for me is the hallmark of a Highsmith novel. And then there's that beyond-flat ending. If my lack of enthusiasm is showing, there are plenty of reasons why. The biggest one is this: I didn't feel this book like I have the others. If you're a regular Highsmith reader, you know what I mean. I'm at the point where now I have to take breathers between reading her novels because they're so dark and so intense, but I didn't get that here. I'd say try it but proceed with caution. Do not make this your first Highsmith novel or you may never go back to another one. Oy.
"A Vingança não é doce. É tão nociva como o resto."A história começa com a descoberta do corpo sem vida de Lelia, deixando Theo e Ramon, os amantes que a partilhavam, sozinhos e entregues ao mistério que envolve a sua morte brutal."Pertencer a um único homem seria o mesmo que excluir todos os outros." Este livro destaca-se dos restantes da autora, pela diferente abordagem. Patricia Highsmith apresenta-nos sempre o assassino, que é, normalmente, a sua personagem principal, aquela que é mais explorada a nível de sentimentos e pensamentos, atitudes e acções. Por isso, nas suas histórias nunca existe mistério em torno do assassino, uma vez que é quem primeiro conhecemos."Certamente que não é normal; no entanto não pertence à categoria dos loucos.""O Jogo da Vida" foca-se na procura pelo assassino de Lelia, pelos amantes e pela policia. Com bastante mistério e reviravoltas, onde um lenço de homem se intromete a cada esquina, as duas personagens principais vêm-se confrontados com chantagem, vingança e, acima de tudo, um pouco de loucura.Apesar das diferenças em relação aos outros livros, Highsmith não esconde o que faz melhor: a análise das personagens. Portanto, a investigação policial está em segundo plano, enquanto que a relação entre Theo e Rámon nos envolve até à última página. As relações entre dois homens são um tema recorrente da autora, que as retrata de uma forma curiosamente fascinante. E mesmo este sendo o livro que Highsmith menos gostou, li-o com bastante prazer e é de admirar um autor que escreve fora do seu estilo, nem que não seja uma só vez!"Aos olhos do Senhor, todos nós somos culpados."
What do You think about A Game For The Living (1994)?
Los libros de Patricia Highsmith son, digamos, sufridos. En las novelas de esta mujer no hay felicidad alguna. Lo único que (en opinión mía, claro esta) se encuentran son personajes en constante conflicto. No solo en conflicto con los demás sino en conflicto consigo mismos, lo cual hace mucho más interesante la prosa de esta mujer un poco subvalorada. Si me tengo que quedar con un personaje de esta novela sería con Ramón,catolico indiscutible que presenta una antítesis de lo que es Theodore, el otro personaje central. Eso es lo excelente de la novela: la dualidad constante, una pelea entre una idea y la otra, personificada en estos dos personajes tan mortificados pero a la vez diferentes. El asesinato, como en todas las novelas de Highsmith parece tener el simple objetivo de hundir a los pobres personajes en los más pesados argumentos interiores. Por eso esta mujer fue una gran psicóloga de ficción y, creo yo, una estilista de la violencia (no gratuita pero estilizada, lo cual es mucho mejor). En fin, recomendadísima novelita de Highsmith, aunque para ser justo, tiene mejores. Pero vale la pena darle la oportunidad.
—Tomás
I would only recommend this book to diehard Patricia Highsmith fans. (And I do consider myself one.) But even then, this really isn't her best work. While it has the distinction of taking place in Mexico, its plot is strange and meandering. It contains probably a short story's worth of events, with a lot of extraneous filler. Aside from a few interesting ruminations on the difference between Catholics and Atheists, the story would have benefited from a faster, more concise pace.This is also the first of Highsmith's books I have read where there is an actual mystery involved. (In most of her books, we know who committed the crime and are often inside his or her head.) But in "A Game for the Living," there is a lack of urgency to discover Lelia's killer, even for the audience. We never get to meet Lelia -- she's dead from the very first chapter -- so it's hard to be as emotionally involved as her two lovers are.Despite this, "A Game for the Living" does contain many other Highsmith trademarks: an unusual love triangle, a nearly-emotionless main character, and an ending that is (supposed to be) shocking and brutal. I don't feel like she really nailed the ending this time, although the very last line of the novel puts the whole thing in perspective.
—Todd Croak-falen
3.5 stars The set-up and finale are tightly written, but there is a lot of plodding psychological space in between. I enjoyed Highsmith's insight into the ex-pat, bohemian life in Mexico. As in other books by Highsmith, we are visiting a section of society that is focused on cocktail parties, affairs, and live-in housekeepers. We also have the unconventional relationship, which is divulged early on, but I'll still mark as a spoiler(view spoiler)[: ex-pat painter Theodore and Mexican native Ramon share a friendship along with a common lover Leila who is murdered by page 12 (hide spoiler)]
—Hans
