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A review by uhhjeepers
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is a gift to people who like literature and value pretentiousness in controlled environments, such as a novel.
I’ve had this book on my list since I entered college, and I graduated this May. There’s almost some magic to reading it once I’ve gotten my degree, as I’m not too close but not that far removed. It’s the perfect in-between that I think this book dabbles in itself, in its own ways.
Unreliable narrators are my bread and butter, and Richard feels like their forefather — the one who came before. The first person immediately introduces doubt but makes me so close to him that I always want to take his word as truth. But despite my inclination to trust him, I still feel doubt even as the covers are closed. And that is beautiful, that lingering.
The other characters are equally, if not more, captivating than our first-person guide through the world. I’m very partial to Henry and Francis, I was endeared to them early on and stuck with that feeling even when Richard implored me to feel otherwise, even against my own better judgment. None of them were trustworthy or even necessarily good, but I loved them all the same.
The plot in this book is just as lively as the characters. I loved it in the exciting and the mundane equally, and that comes from Donna Tartt’s expert navigation of the perspective. Richard’s purposeful omissions and emphases make the pacing feel alive, literally, like the ebb and flow of life. The rush and dawdle of day-to-day. I loved it.
I’m generally an emotional person, but I really had to fight back tears finishing this in public. I felt sad for events, for characters, and for the simple act of being done. And that is such a testament to the greatness of a book — an unwillingness to leave it. I’ll certainly return in due time.
Apologies for such a wordy and gushy review. I feel like I always talk more and have a greater appreciation for word play after I read something that hits me the way this did. This book is dark academia magic in its purest form, so if you’re looking for that, look at this. But beware that every other dark academia book experience will be informed by this one, past and present.
I’ve had this book on my list since I entered college, and I graduated this May. There’s almost some magic to reading it once I’ve gotten my degree, as I’m not too close but not that far removed. It’s the perfect in-between that I think this book dabbles in itself, in its own ways.
Unreliable narrators are my bread and butter, and Richard feels like their forefather — the one who came before. The first person immediately introduces doubt but makes me so close to him that I always want to take his word as truth. But despite my inclination to trust him, I still feel doubt even as the covers are closed. And that is beautiful, that lingering.
The other characters are equally, if not more, captivating than our first-person guide through the world. I’m very partial to Henry and Francis, I was endeared to them early on and stuck with that feeling even when Richard implored me to feel otherwise, even against my own better judgment. None of them were trustworthy or even necessarily good, but I loved them all the same.
The plot in this book is just as lively as the characters. I loved it in the exciting and the mundane equally, and that comes from Donna Tartt’s expert navigation of the perspective. Richard’s purposeful omissions and emphases make the pacing feel alive, literally, like the ebb and flow of life. The rush and dawdle of day-to-day. I loved it.
I’m generally an emotional person, but I really had to fight back tears finishing this in public. I felt sad for events, for characters, and for the simple act of being done. And that is such a testament to the greatness of a book — an unwillingness to leave it. I’ll certainly return in due time.
Apologies for such a wordy and gushy review. I feel like I always talk more and have a greater appreciation for word play after I read something that hits me the way this did. This book is dark academia magic in its purest form, so if you’re looking for that, look at this. But beware that every other dark academia book experience will be informed by this one, past and present.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicide, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Islamophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Classism
Minor: Racial slurs