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One of only two books I can say I enjoyed the movie more than the book.

Oh, I definitely agree with that. I didn't think that was a thing that could happen, but I was wrong. :)

I also thought the movie was better. (Angie, what was the other movie you preferred over its book?)

I love you. I'm sorry Carol has caused you such distress!

I'm happy to report I didn't very much like either creations :D
And it drives me nuts that people won't stop talking about how glorious it all is.

/review/show...

I slogged through the book mostly because it was called a classic and I felt like I had to finish it. But I didn't enjoy it at all. Hoping I like the movie more (whenever it gets up here).

Sorry, Heather, I didn't see this until now. Ang Lee's Sense and Sensibility is the other one, which is weird since Jane Austen is my favorite writer of all time. It's not her strongest book, and I just think the combination of Ang Lee's visual mastery (seriously, every shot looked like a Vermeer painting) and Emma Thompson's brilliant screenplay and all the acting giants in that film vastly improved even Jane Austen's prose. And granted, it was one of her earliest novels.

I could not have said it better myself. There isn't a single redeeming quality to either of these women, and nothing about the story captured me or kept me interested.

Saw Carol. Did not read the book. I agree with you. I did not get it. I could not understand how those two characters developed or had a relationship. Long glances, quiet touch, a wry smile does not make for a relationship. I am intrigued intellectually enough to read the book. We don't have to like everything.

I agree 100%. Carol is a horrible person. She was horrible to her husband, her child, and to Therese. Therese has no redeeming qualities, in my opinion. I understand that, for the time it was written, it was groundbreaking, but this book does nothing for me.

Just started reading it, but I appreciate just seeing a different POV. I felt about the movie kind of how you describe feeling about the book, but I'm gonna give it a shot anyhow.

I agree 100%. I'm glad I'm not the only one!

I'm having the same feelings. Both women are so BLAND and vacuous, I fail to see how anyone could like them, much less they like each other.

I listened to the audiobook, which was very well narrated, but I found the ending cringeworthy! I will say that Carol demystifies homosexual relationships--they´re just as good or bad as heterosexual relationships! They all involve human beings.

This is the first time I’ve thought the movie is likely better than the novel. Like you said, the two characters seemed nebulous and reserved. Maybe reserved is giving them too much credit. Did they have personality at all? I think facial expressions in a movie would help a lot. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator added lots of inflection that I’m not sure was true to the author’s intent.

I have read 2/3 by now and I agree 100% with you.

Yep, such bland characters!

Wholly, wholly agree with you! Saw so many 4-5 star ratings & to each their own but just can’t understand what captivated other readers.

So I kinda understand where you’re coming from. Therese is unhealthily obsessed with Carol and I can see how that could be hard to get over because it is legitimately cringey (on purpose). But think about how Therese is initially characterized. She’s a loner. She either doesn’t invest in relationships with the people around her or she actively sabotages them. Carol is one of the few people that Therese actually tries to spend time with and get to know and Carol not only reciprocates but encourages Therese to strengthen relationships with others (like sending the gifts to Mrs Robichek). Therese’s arc is in realizing that it is ok to put herself out there and really get close to people and let them in. It does seem to backfire when Carol leaves her and she does spiral into resentment for a little while. But she comes out on the other side realizing that she doesn’t need Carol and she can kinda form deep relationships with whoever she wants.

From Carol’s perspective, she initially thinks Therese is hitting on her so she takes Therese to lunch to verify that Therese is in fact hitting on her and then to her house for *wink wink*. When they get to Carol’s house, she realizes that Therese is extremely nervous and clueless. Carol has the brilliant idea to ask Therese how old she is and realizes “ohhhhh yeah she is not mature enough for this�. All of the parts where Carol is being “mean� to Therese are actually parts where Carol is very conscious of their maturity gap and is trying to push Therese away by making her feel like a little kid. This doesn’t work because Therese is so incomprehensibly obsessed with Carol and Carol herself doesn’t mind the attention. Remember, her husband has basically isolated her from every support system. Carol’s family is from Washington state. Harge’s family is from New Jersey too. Carol only has Rindy and Abby. Rindy is an actual child. Carol just got out of a failed relationship with Abby a few MONTHS prior (ik the movie tweaked that). Therese is kinda Carol’s emotional support pet until they go on the roadtrip. Carol’s arc is in realizing that she doesn’t have to lose herself to her relationships. She would have had to “live against her grain� to preserve her relationship with Rindy. She made huge sacrifices for her relationship with Harge. But she doesn’t have to sacrifice who she is to be with Therese.

I’m not trying to convince you to like the book. Not everything is for everyone. But I do think that reading it through the lens I have laid out will make for a more enjoyable experience.