A review by alba_marie
The Secret History, by Donna Tartt
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
<i>“It's a very Greek idea, and a very profound one. Beauty is terror. Whatever we call beautiful, we quiver before it. And what could be more terrifying and beautiful, to souls like the Greeks or our own, than to lose control completely? To throw off the chains of being for an instant, to shatter the accident of our mortal selves? </i>
Dark academia is so, so clearly my style.
<i>The Secret History</i> caught my eye awhile ago, but when a friend read and recommended it at the tail end of dark winter's days, it seemed like the perfect time to read it. And I'm so, so glad I did.
My favourite book of the year so far, I really needed a 5 star win, and Donna Tartt did not disappoint. This is a story of a group of academics who get so caught up in their own world and philosophy, so cut off from the real world and other people, that when they do something terrible, they twist themselves and reality into knots to justify it, and to make it disappear. This is a book about the slow disintegration of a person's mind and morals in face of a darker, overwhelming group's philosophy. This is a book abut how far a person goes to justify a nonsensical act. About how far a person is willing to twist their own morals to fit into a group they yearn to join.
The writing is incredibly mature, mixing terribleness and beauty in equal parts. Claustrophobic and exclusive, this is a book full of unlikeable characters that you simply cannot get enough of. You know they can't win. You know they shouldn't win. You don't even <i>want </i> them to win. But you are darkly fascinated by them, you can't stop watching them. It's like watching a car crash in slow motion – you know it will be bad, but you can't take your eyes away.
Each of the characters were terrible, horrible people. They were in no way likeable. But they were in no way <i>meant</i> to be likeable, and in their terribleness, Tartt created a thing of beauty.
If you like dark academia, or just dark, juicy gothic stories, read <i>The Secret History</i> for sure.
Dark academia is so, so clearly my style.
<i>The Secret History</i> caught my eye awhile ago, but when a friend read and recommended it at the tail end of dark winter's days, it seemed like the perfect time to read it. And I'm so, so glad I did.
My favourite book of the year so far, I really needed a 5 star win, and Donna Tartt did not disappoint. This is a story of a group of academics who get so caught up in their own world and philosophy, so cut off from the real world and other people, that when they do something terrible, they twist themselves and reality into knots to justify it, and to make it disappear. This is a book about the slow disintegration of a person's mind and morals in face of a darker, overwhelming group's philosophy. This is a book abut how far a person goes to justify a nonsensical act. About how far a person is willing to twist their own morals to fit into a group they yearn to join.
The writing is incredibly mature, mixing terribleness and beauty in equal parts. Claustrophobic and exclusive, this is a book full of unlikeable characters that you simply cannot get enough of. You know they can't win. You know they shouldn't win. You don't even <i>want </i> them to win. But you are darkly fascinated by them, you can't stop watching them. It's like watching a car crash in slow motion – you know it will be bad, but you can't take your eyes away.
Each of the characters were terrible, horrible people. They were in no way likeable. But they were in no way <i>meant</i> to be likeable, and in their terribleness, Tartt created a thing of beauty.
If you like dark academia, or just dark, juicy gothic stories, read <i>The Secret History</i> for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Minor: Blood and Homophobia