A review by ambivalentneb
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

dark reflective tense slow-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

2.5

I have conflicting feelings, I usually prefer more metaphysical or ponderous books but The Secret History is more of following events in real time in dialogue with little introspection. It is my own taste but I feel like without the introspection and thoughts of characters the impact of the book and moral is diminished. This is my opinion immediately after finishing though, it may change.

UPD: I also found the gaps of just minor events and excessive drinking and drugs to be quite banal. The main interesting stretches are the first 100 pages and the last 100, the rest is just fluff that fails to be fluff. Also many of the characters are underdeveloped, Camilla is just an aloof female love interest, Francis is just a stereotypical preppy twink and Charles is just a guy who gets drunk. Overall just give more explicit reflection and development; I really don’t care how Charles tapped that on Francis or the drug endeavors of Hampden. I want defined moral reflection. It could’ve been so much more.
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