Small g: A Summer Idyll

Rating:
Summary: A must for fans only
Review: Highsmith's last novel, very hard to find, is probably best reserved for die-hard fans only (like me). It is NOT a suspense novel, and bears only the faintest resemblance to her other works (most notably, "Found in the Street," her penultimate book). "Small g" is a rambling character study about sexual preference and freedom among various characters associated with a semi-gay bar in Zurich. Its chief merits are the many strong and likable characters, plus a fluid writing style that makes for a very easy read. Also, like one or two other Highsmith works, it addresses gay issues without seeming like pro-gay propaganda. For a Highsmith fan like me, it was amazing to encounter so many very likable characters here -- a real switch for Highsmith, who has always seemed like a profound cynic about human nature -- and a generally upbeat book, with several happy scenes and some actual romance. This NEVER happens in other Highsmith books! I was fascinated that she left such an upbeat novel as her last work, considering that most of her novels are so incredibly downbeat and depressing. One wonders what else she might have done if she had lived another 10 years. . . .