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A review by aloverspoetry
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I finished this book a month ago.. and at this point I thought of giving it a 3.75. However it ruined me sort of and therefore it’s a 4.25 (for now).
Let’s go into this..
Am I looking or sounding stupid to you? Because that’s how I feel after reading this!! Maybe I should start reading in old languages I learned in school and people told me „nobody needs this“ and now I’m regretting for not paying more attention?!!
What the HECK just happened? I’m positively shocked how easy I can excuse the forcibly unsubscribtion of life of a friend who (and please don’t get me wrong) was quite horrible. Yes he was „so funny and always light hearted“ but the comments he dropped… naaaah sry I would have sucker punched him multiple times. I do think you’re supposed to feel that way and then realize „hold on I really shouldn’t excuse showing people the earth from below“.
What I want to say.. I really liked the vibe of this book. The old literature and the quotes. The romanticizing of your student life. How the words are used and the perspective of Richard who I can understand quite well (trying to fit in with my poor student —). And I do think you should read this if you have any love for literature and old languages or like the aesthetic ✨ dark academia ✨. BECAUSE I think it’s a critic on the way we like to look at things. How we excuse to follow our „inner beasts“ and what it does to us. This aesthetic and university as itself can be so toxic. People think they’re better than others. Want to be the smarter ones. Want to be the elite and then end up with destroying their life’s and not regarding what would be right. Being just selfish. (Not everyone though, I personally love academia but you have to see behind the curtains as well.)
That being said. If Henry Winter is your favorite. Absolutely! I can understand and I would sign this statement. If you’re romanticizing him and want to date him without regarding his silly goofy mood. Please get therapy. God knows I do need it as well.
Francis would be a better option.
In the end. I think „beauty is terror“ is a quote that’s overrated and I instead propose „my mum thinks I’m on drugs“ which summarizes the book amazingly well.
Thank you for reading :D
Let’s go into this..
Am I looking or sounding stupid to you? Because that’s how I feel after reading this!! Maybe I should start reading in old languages I learned in school and people told me „nobody needs this“ and now I’m regretting for not paying more attention?!!
What the HECK just happened? I’m positively shocked how easy I can excuse the forcibly unsubscribtion of life of a friend who (and please don’t get me wrong) was quite horrible. Yes he was „so funny and always light hearted“ but the comments he dropped… naaaah sry I would have sucker punched him multiple times. I do think you’re supposed to feel that way and then realize „hold on I really shouldn’t excuse showing people the earth from below“.
What I want to say.. I really liked the vibe of this book. The old literature and the quotes. The romanticizing of your student life. How the words are used and the perspective of Richard who I can understand quite well (trying to fit in with my poor student —). And I do think you should read this if you have any love for literature and old languages or like the aesthetic ✨ dark academia ✨. BECAUSE I think it’s a critic on the way we like to look at things. How we excuse to follow our „inner beasts“ and what it does to us. This aesthetic and university as itself can be so toxic. People think they’re better than others. Want to be the smarter ones. Want to be the elite and then end up with destroying their life’s and not regarding what would be right. Being just selfish. (Not everyone though, I personally love academia but you have to see behind the curtains as well.)
That being said. If Henry Winter is your favorite. Absolutely! I can understand and I would sign this statement. If you’re romanticizing him and want to date him without regarding his silly goofy mood. Please get therapy. God knows I do need it as well.
Francis would be a better option.
In the end. I think „beauty is terror“ is a quote that’s overrated and I instead propose „my mum thinks I’m on drugs“ which summarizes the book amazingly well.
Thank you for reading :D