Deep Water
Book description
Vic and Melinda Van Allen's loveless marriage is held together only by a precarious arrangement whereby, in order to avoid the messiness of divorce, Melinda is allowed to take any number of lovers as long as she does not desert her family. Eventually, Vic can no longer suppress his jealousy…
Why read it?
1 author picked Deep Water as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Having worked as a couple counsellor some decades ago, I recognised some of the truly ghastly aspects of a dysfunctional marriage in this story – but the real joy was in the storytelling itself.
The complex morality and cringe-making behaviour, all told in a calmly credible voice, made it a uniquely memorable read. We shamelessly take the ‘wrong’ side (as in the Ripley books). Highsmith holds nothing back. No act is too wicked, no motive too banal. One never knows what to expect. A brilliant writer.
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