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alastorthewerewolf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, and Mental illness
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Outing, and Classism
helhas3letters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Not a single one of these characters is likeable (perhaps maybe Georges LaForgue), so I just did not care one bit about what happened to them. And what on earth is with everyone
In terms of the plot, it’s incredibly repetitive and moves frustratingly slowly. Aside from the two or three main events that take place in this story, there is just far too much waiting around, moving back and forth between locations, and nothing happening for my liking. I honestly don’t understand the point of large chunks of this novel, nor certain characters who do not affect the story or world whatsoever.
I thought the ending was pretty bizarre too. Why did it become a
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Death of parent, Outing, and Classism
atalea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, and Vomit
withlivjones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
For real though I understand why this book is a modern classic, it gets pretty tangential at times which really slows it down but it is so atmospheric and provides such detailed portraits of all the central characters, and the ending had me GAGGED.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Grief, and Suicide attempt
shellocopter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
anneroza's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
littlehedgehog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
-The characters -
Most of the characters are flat as a pancake. Except for Henry and Bunny, no one, not even the main character, is really anything. This is especially peculiar because you as a reader are supposed to detest the characters - because they are wealthy, haughty and ignorant. Which I didn't, which is probably in part caused by the fact that they are essentially hot elitist cardboard-cutouts instead of real three-dimensional characters.
On a meta- level, it is hilarious that this character study is in fact so bad that a lot of people (see other reviews) actually think it is desirable to be a part of such a group of friends because they are so ✨aesthetic and erudite✨.
However, most of the time, I found them to be tepid and pretentious. All of the characters are essentially that dude from uni who has more money than is good for him and keeps talking to you unpromptedly about nihilism and Nietzsche and you just think "bro don't you have enough money to buy yourself a tad life?".
- The plot -
Everything about the "thriller" part of the plot has been done better in Tana French's "The Likeness", which has a very similar premise. I also found it particularly infuriating how every time something interesting could be happening, Donna Tartt spoilers it just 20 pages before it happens by saying things like "but that would be the last time I saw X" or
- The writing -
The writing is one of the more positive aspects of this book. People love Donna Tartt for her ornate language and extensive metaphors, which I found amusing at best and annoying at worst. In isolation, they might seem to spring from a meaningful book; however, I can assure you, they don't. Most of these extensive descriptions and great metaphors go nowhere, have nothing to say. They make great quotes on an insta page in front of a vintage letter background, but that's it.
- The pacing -
My god, the fucking pacing. For example: We know that this friend group kills Bunny. We even know how, since all of this is explained in the very first pages. Interesting premise, right? Wrong. Donna Tartt wastes your time so much with coming to any kind of plot point. There are, at times, 200 pages in a row where nothing is happening regarding the plot. There is even a part where the characters surmise what the best way is to kill Bunny - Well, we as a reader KNOW how they killed him! Since page one! Instead you have to watch these buffoons pondering with which poison to kill him while knowing they will push him down a ravine. Just wow.
There is some sexual violence sprinkled in pretty randomly. Francis basically has, even in the most benevolent eye, sexual intercourse with his male friends under dubious circumstances (them always being blackout drunk to have deniability why they engaged in homosexual activities) which becomes even more appalling when he advances in a clearly rapey way on Richard. Speaking of Richard: One day, he talks to Camilla who shows him the severe injuries she suffered through Charles' abuse (yes that's the brother she fucks) because he is possessive and doesn't want her to fuck Henry, another friend (you still keeping up?). She is then engulfed by a stream of the sun shining in, a light that makes her glow in such beauty that Richard can't help but be entangled by such a fondness for her, that he wants to throw her on the bed and strangle/rape her. You were surprised? Yeah, me too. Hitted me like a fire truck, that one. Btw she's, before and after that scene, his love interest. He even proposes to her. Just Lovely.
Overall, the only thing that saves this book is that, in 1992, this was probably a new idea and the writing is nice sometimes. Oh, and it's a great book to learn flowery words if English is your second language.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual violence and Sexual harassment
maygetdizzy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
azrawieazrael's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Addiction and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Suicide attempt
caffeinatedbookdragon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
The characters are morally bankrupt (mostly) rich kids, so it was hard to really care about them. I genuinely don’t understand why Richard in particular went along with some ~particular~ actions of the others.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Murder, and Classism