There wasn't just one thing in the novel that imitated real life. The whole novel imitated real life. I don't understand how you could say in class that realism is a genre, and then turn around and say that it isn't when it includes a novel you don't think belongs there. My dictionary defines anticipate to most nearly mean expect. I wasn't expecting anything interesting to happen.
Suspense novels are suspenseful.
There's a long period of uncomfortable anticipation for answers to some question in suspense novels. There was no question in The Talented Mr. Ripley to be answered so there was no suspense or anticipation. Even if there was a question in Highsmith's novel, I would have to care about what the answer could be, in order to feel anticipation. I don't think people are as protective of little boys as little girls, which is why I don't think men are as suspicious of people as women are. Because of this, I think women are more aware of morally and psychologically disturbed people existing in the real world.