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A review by orangeburrito
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Donna Tartt's first and arguably seminal work. This is a massively intricate and dark novel, with morally gray, complex characters.
The story rises to a violent crescendo, lifted along excellent verbiage as the lives of the main characters spiral into insanity, and ends on a melancholy note.
You'll feel out of sorts after you finish it, like the book has ripped something out of you and left you empty for a period. It's extremely impressive how Tartt wrote this at 29, with the numerous references to random Greek language minutiate and elaborate, winding plot.
The story rises to a violent crescendo, lifted along excellent verbiage as the lives of the main characters spiral into insanity, and ends on a melancholy note.
You'll feel out of sorts after you finish it, like the book has ripped something out of you and left you empty for a period. It's extremely impressive how Tartt wrote this at 29, with the numerous references to random Greek language minutiate and elaborate, winding plot.