Reviews with content warning for Death - Die geheime Geschichte

I have to say that I went into this thinking it was "dark-academia-fun" but in it's first spin it was 1. true crime, 2. commiting crimes on a daily basis, 3. Incest, 4. sudden romance, 5. "betrayal?" 6. more death and at it's peak, homophobic and simultaneously, homosexual.
I love this book, and I hate myself for loving it.
A lot of people say, that the writing is too dense. It really isnt!!!! It feels like any person with a degree in English could have written this AND THAT IS THE CHARM BC THE NARRATOR IS A PERSON WITH AN ENGLISH MAJOR.
The writing felt real and I did sometimes forget that this book is fictional bc of that.

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alexinvelvet's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Great book for fans of dark academia. Although the description of the book is a bit lacking - the charismatic professor doesn’t really influence the students, but rather the students interpret his lessons as a challenge to reach new dimensions.

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roseisvibing's review against another edition

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dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The Secret History is so slow-paced, oh my god. While the writing is very descriptive, there is so much unnecessary writing that makes you want to give up reading it. It takes like 200 pages (out of 600) of build up for any major plot development to happen. I like the intended message, but it is presented so indirectly in a text that is overall so longwinded that it almost loses meaning. It's the kind of book where you have to sit and process once you've finished- not in the 'wow, this has really affected me' kind of way, but in the 'what in the fuck did I just read' kind of way. The meaning/themes are very subtle, which meant I was left trying to figure out what point Tartt was intending to make with them. At times, it feels like events are just happening without a point to them.

Also, I find the book's recent BookTok popularity very ironic given its intended message. I've seen people recommending this book because it's very 'dark academia' or 'aesthetic'- people are recommending it based on the aesthetics of the setting and the descriptive writing, which the book absolutely does provide (in an overly longwinded manner). However, the book's intended message is that having an obsession or fixation on aesthetics or outward appearances can lead to people overlooking necessary practical or internal traits. So, ironically, Tartt's text has kind of become exactly the opposite of what she intended, given that most readers' descriptions are reducing it to its aesthetics rather than its actual message and dark themes.

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daphnegeorgia's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A beautifully dark tragedy! It has left me speechless, nauseous, and in tears.

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wormgirl's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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the_archivist_jon's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book hurt. A lot.
This review is not spoiler free.

Spoiler

I thought how the flaws of each of the characters are revealed through the text really well-done, from Henry's unwavering loyalty towards Julian and his fierce demands for control over any and all situations, to Charles unravelling towards the end of the book. Suspense was handled incredibly well, while we are told what happens in the very first few pages of the book, we are the only ones who know. We get to see the characters' descent into their own form of madness. I hated Bunny, and while it is wrong that he was killed I certainly would've done something about the way he acts. The discussion of the fatal flaw is revealed throughout the book, even as Richard himself admits his own, the others refuse to do so, and they get dragged up in front of each of them in turn. I really wish we'd have heard more from Camilla towards the end, because throughout the book she's mostly only described through Richard's eyes and we only see a glorified version of her, and not the actual Camilla.

10/10 would read again but maybe once i'm emotionally stable
i've never cried at a book the way i cried at this.

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