Reviews tagging 'Cultural appropriation'

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

5 reviews

phantomeyer's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-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

2.5

I kept waiting for this book to impress me. It never delivered. It did a good job of sustaining a vague tension, but it was also sufficiently hazy that the (likely intentional) feeling of unreality meant that I was unmoved by the plot. Plus, I had very little interest in the characters: a bunch of pretentious caricatures the lot of them. If I’m going to be told a murder story in first person, it needs to be a hell of a lot more gripping. And no, I don’t mean fast-paced. I mean more thought-provoking/eerie/evocative…. Basically somehow more interesting and entertaining. I don’t know what it says about me that many reviewers found this book to be “crazy” and really dark, whereas I mostly felt underwhelmed?

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

pbthealien's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

4.75

The Secret History is a perfect representation of the most carnal violent desires of the human experience, a perverse obsession with the macabre, and the arrogance of (specifically wealthy) youth. Allowing the audience to grow to love these characters, to empathize with them, was a stroke of genius by the author. For the first few hundred pages I thought the pacing was too slow, but the author was merely allowing enough time for the characters to become familiar and relatable. 

Without spoiling the plot, I believe the narrative was divisive and engaging throughout, while still deeply linking to the novel’s core themes. The juxtaposition of the groups’ erratic and cruel actions and their sophisticated environment serves to highlight their depravity even more. 

Richard, specifically, was a character who felt like a blank slate in the best way. He is the Everyman in a sea of wealthy elites, who is just along for the ride with the others. He is the only part of the book on which I am torn. I would have loved to see his character expanded upon more considering he was the MC, but his (relatively) passive role in the plot serves to provide a reliable narration.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

andreadelo's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Grief, Medical trauma, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

jelliestars's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Cultural appropriation

pobi's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

Like a murder mystery but back to front. Hated the first 100 pages and then couldn't stop reading for the rest of it. I enjoyed it tremendously (perhaps because of how dramatic all the characters are) but also I'm a little surprised (concerned?) that this is the centerpoint of dark academia and so many people seemed to want to emulate these people - they're not particularly charming really. I guess it has an almost Dorian Gray vibe to it sometimes though.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Self harm, Sexism, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, and Cultural appropriation