A review by psychology4introverts
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.5

This is most of all a masterfully written book in every respect. That in itself makes it a must-read. It doesn‘t have a happy end, but one knows that from the start, so it‘s ok. It really is not about the end, it is about the story itself and how it evolves. It makes you think, always on the brink of emphasising, but then not. It keeps you tethered because it somehow involves you and makes you think and ponder, only to reveal a different truth than you thought it would, more mundane and at the same time more mind-boggling. It would be a loss for any intelligent human being who is fascinated by the „Why“ of things, to not read it. I got the hardcover version and I‘m glad because I‘ll surely read it again. It is indeed the perfect dark academia book, and perfect for an autumn read.