ritugp01's review against another edition
- 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
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.Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, Sexism, Misogyny, Addiction, Cursing, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Car accident, Classism, Gaslighting, Excrement, Murder, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Antisemitism, Self harm, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
mirivii's review against another edition
- 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 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.
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Death, Gaslighting, Incest, Suicide, Classism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Racism, and Racial slurs
Minor: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
laurataylor's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Injury/injury detail, Sexual content, Animal death, Blood, Gore, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Car accident, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Incest, and Sexual assault
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
SPOILERS (probably)
Well isnt richard just the most dumb fuck around, boy is literally just sticking his noise in everything and giving his opinion when he clearly doesnt not know half of what is happening and even when he does his conclusion is still fucking stupid, like ‘god camilla idk care if ur brothers abusive get out >:(‘ also his whole love for camilla was weird and i hated it, she was clearly literally never interested in you and u were like #marryme? , i agree with francis, idk how u graduated.
Im not even gonna try and question whatever julian and henry had going on, also fun fact about me is i actually didnt need a wrap up at the end of every single character we met lol
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Violence, Car accident, Alcoholism, Gore, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Incest, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Homophobia, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Death, and Grief
confused_14'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: Homophobia, Suicide, Vomit, Incest, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Violence, Sexism, and Mental illness
Minor: Car accident and Cancer
rosaleekarisma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Death
Moderate: Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Antisemitism, Grief, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Addiction, Incest, Medical content, Violence, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Self harm, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Rape, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, and Death of parent
intrusive thoughtskonstantina'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
4.75
I hope we're all ready to leave the phenomenal world, and enter into the sublime?
I don't know what to say about this bizzare, yet beautiful book. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. It's one of those books that leave you looking at the wall with a blank stare. Reading it in Greek certainly made the experience more poetic.
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Grief, and Incest
Minor: Car accident, Classism, Racial slurs, Islamophobia, and Antisemitism
kellywa2711's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Homophobia, Suicide, Car accident, Murder, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Incest
collecting_starlight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder and Homophobia
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Incest, and Drug use
Minor: Car accident
jessicastott's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Addiction, Violence, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Suicide, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Murder, Incest, and Car accident
Minor: Gun violence, Mental illness, Cursing, Misogyny, Racism, and Classism