The Price of Salt, or Carol

A chance encounter between two lonely women leads to a passionate romance in this lesbian cult classic. Therese, a struggling young sales clerk, and Carol, a homemaker in the midst of a bitter divorce, abandon their oppressive daily routines for the freedom of the open road, where their love can blossom. But their newly discovered bliss is shattered when Carol is forced to choose between her child and her lover.

Author Patricia Highsmith is best known for her psychological thrillers Strangers on a Train and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Originally published in 1952 under a pseudonym, The Price of Salt was heralded as "the novel of a love society forbids." Highsmith's sensitive treatment of fully realized characters who defy stereotypes about homosexuality marks a departure from previous lesbian pulp fiction. Erotic, eloquent, and suspenseful, this story offers an honest look at the necessity of being true to one's nature. The book is also the basis of the acclaimed 2015 film Carol, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.

These book club questions are from Shmoop.com.

Book club questions for The Price of Salt, or Carol by Patricia Highsmith

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Carol is hard to read. What does Therese admire about her? What is she attracted to? How do you feel about Carol? Is she complex or overly complicated?

What will happen to Therese and Carol after the book ends? What challenges will they face? Will they be happy together?

How are same-sex relationships different in the 1950s, when the book is set, than in present day? What's changed about society's attitude toward same-sex couples, and what remains the same?

Why do Therese and Carol leave New York City? What do they learn and experience on their trip that they would never have seen in the city?

Why do you think Patricia Highsmith published this novel under a pen name?

What makes this book a classic? Why is it still being read today? What can people today relate to in the novel? What has changed since the novel was written in the 1950s?

What modern books and movies do you think were inspired by The Price of Salt?

How would the story be different if it were two men—say, Terry and Carlo—instead of two women?

The Price of Salt, or Carol Book Club Questions PDF

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