Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Die geheime Geschichte

Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Die geheime Geschichte, by Donna Tartt

197 reviews

james1star's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective tense medium-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

4.5

The Secret History is undoubtedly a very well written and theorised book, Tartt gifts us, in my opinion, the perfect balance of plot and character analysis alongside some truly exquisite passages. Without including many spoilers, all I can say for the plot is we follow the student Richard Papen as he tells the story of his time at Hampden College in Vermont. Not wanting to neglect the Greek he had previously studied, he joins the cohort headed by the odd teacher that is Julian, becoming close to him and his fellow classmates: Henry, Francis, Edmund (Bunny) and the twins Charles and Camilla. This group who I called ‘the Greeks’ in my notes lead fairly strange lives from fellow students at the college but one that certainly intrigues Richard. And then things happen…

This is for sure a Big Brain Energy book: there’s untranslated Ancient Greek, Latin and French in it, multi-syntaxes sentences containing ‘()’s ‘-‘s and lists within, parts inferred and much more. So whilst it’s not the most accessible and definitely makes you think, it’s still an enjoyable reading experience. Some parts went over my head but I did feel a bit intelligent I guess reading it. This may put some people off and I get that but personally I could follow well enough and enjoyed the engagement of my brain at times. The way Tartt pulls it all together with a multilayered plot and very nuanced characters shows her BBE off, she clearly knows her stuff and I guess wanted to show this off - however, the story and flow isn’t negatively impacted in doing so. I absolutely loved how parts were pieced together and everything just clicks in place, so so good!

The characters are primarily unlikable but you get to know them so well and in such depth that at times you do root for them, in essence wanting the baddies to get away with it. But they are jarringgggggggg. Like wow did they annoy me and it does get quite repetitive at points too. I think Bunny was the character I liked least and Francis most but there is nuance for days in this book. The developments, analysis and interactions between the characters is all done very well and intelligently so.

The things I didn’t particularly like all that much was how about the page 400 mark I felt it was at a great ending point but then it kept on going… and going… and going. I still enjoyed these parts in terms of writing style but the actual events weren’t to my taste in all honestly with certain plot points, a major plot twist I didn’t see coming, didn’t really add up all that well. Therefore, the messages the book portrays weren’t the best specifically in terms of suicide and reasons why people are led to it - a bit too much was left to the imagination. I also felt in this final third that I had spent too long with these characters (I’m not accustomed to long books btw) and their annoying qualities shone out a bit too much. I’d say an enhanced epilogue might have been a better solution or thinning out this part of the book I’d have preferred.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book but look into the trigger warnings first as there are quite a few and know it’s written in a BBE pretentious way that might not appeal to everyone. I’m glad I read it and would be one I’d be interested in revisiting in a few years to see if I could get more out it. I’ve also just written this after finishing the book so I might add to this review in the coming days or possibly make a video for my YouTube channel.

Content Warnings

ritugp01's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This novel was lauded as a modern classic from Pulitzer-winning author Donna Tart. I wholeheartedly agree. The disdain that filled me for all the characters in various classics like The Great Gatsby, Giovanni's Room, etc, also permeated throughout the experience of reading The Secret History. I consider this further evidence that it is an exquisite piece of literature.

The novel has been described as "a murder mystery in reverse." While this is a perfect description, the book is also a deep look in how easily murder occurs, even in seemingly normal people, as long as one opens themselves to the possibility.

Spoiler

In a tl;dr character analysis: Henry was utterly unhinged and I think I loved him regardless. Richard, the narrator was mediocre but served his purpose as a voyeur to multiple murders. Charles and Camilla? WTF. But also, they both sucked and I cannot decide who was worse. Francis is the only valid character but he's on this ice too. Julian is just Henry but older and willing to fake social skills. Lowkey, Bunny sucked but damn I feel bad he was killed. Like, he was just freaking out that his friends committed MURDER, it's totally understandable he was on the edge of a psychotic break. This book was a lot, and Judy Poovey is the only good person in the whole story.

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em_gauts's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

codecat's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.5

Content Warnings

pennedpaper's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.0

The Secret history is a far too overhyped book. The premise of the book was interesting, but the execution could have been better done. I loved the idea of a dark academic book focused on greek literature. The book was possibly ruined for me because of Babel. Whereas Babel touched on themes such as colonialism and racism in a poor light, The Secret History is much more pretentious and classist. It does raise an interesting question though would you do something just because you can get away with it? The plot was a little confusing, especially because the narrator is not ever fully aware of what is going on. Richard, the narrator, usually pieces together the plot with the little bit of information he has. I didn’t find the characters all too loveable, and I found the plot quite lacking. I think that the main issue with The Secret History is that it was trying to criticize the idea of the classism and elitism that takes place in academia, but it failed to miss the mark and instead read as the opposite of what was intended.

I would give this book a 2/5. I think it was an interesting experience to read once, but I wouldn’t read it again.

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iinasomnia's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

mirivii's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I seldom engage in 300+ pages books, as I tend to be stuck with them even if I am not enjoying it – just for the sake of finishing the story. So deciding to start The Secret History was a leap of hope.

I don't know what Donna Tartt laced these pages with ... probably cocaine? I could not put this book down. Had me reading at night, which has not happened since I was a teenager 🥴

The plot was beautifully built and her way of writing it's so captivating. Her views on how to build suspense are refreshing, and the fact that this is a 1992 novel speaks for itself.

Much like the main character Richard, the first half of the book is set up on adoring this clique of literary and elitist students. You want to (want to) be them, with them, as erudite as them. As their flaws come to light they are viewed as whimsical and exciting, just to add to the mystic aura that they project.

What I really liked: the disenchantment of Richard in the second part of the book – the way the spell was broken and just like an addict that stopped being elated by their presence, he sees the mess all around and within them. The god-adjacent portrait of the chosen humans; the analogies to classical myths; how Bunny flew too close to the sun and his fall.

What I wish we saw more of: The twins' psychology – they were both lambs until one of them turned wolf almost inexplicably. What really happened during the bacchanal and what is up with Julian.

For what concerns the bacchanal, I could even live without knowing what went down. As Richard says in the book, when he reads biographies of serial killers, they tend to fixate on the most mundane things instead of the villainous acts and desires. It could be kind of the same here – I admit that the whole bacchanal ordeal was far more fascinating to me than the murder.

Something that I cannot get over is Julian Morrow, described as this wise whisperer that fascinates the smarts and eludes the mundanes. And yet we see that he is merely a human too. How could Henry be so violently attached to such a haughty person? He could have surely seen beyond Julian's most superficial attitude and his pride. Is Julian supposed to be seen as the Christians' almighty God? Above everything, interested in nothing, incapable (or unwilling) of aid.

Anyway, glad that I stumbled upon the BBC's Donna Tartt interview as hearing her speak was what made be grab the book from my to-be-read shelf.

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