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dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
‘The Secret History’ by Donna Tartt is narrated by the main character Richard Papen as he recounts the events of his youth. Under the influence of their classics professor, him and his classmates push the boundaries of morality. This way of life eventually leads to the death of their friend Bunny Corcoran, an event that changes their life drastically.
All the characters in ‘The Secret History’ were interesting and had many layers, though none of them were made to be likeable. I enjoyed reading about them as they had a lifestyle and way of thinking so incredible different to my own. All the characters were so fucked up but it made the book even better and it was written so well that I often found myself sympathising with them. I had a particular fondness for the character Francis as I thought he was the most relatable and probably the most sane one out of all of them. Anxious, gay, dramatic, red-head, that’s literally the key pillars that hold up my personality. Also he’s iconic with one-liners like “If you drank as much as he does, I daresay I would’ve been to bed with you, too.” Iconic behaviour.
On a more serious topic Tartt’s writing is absolutely phenomenal. She manages to describe even the most mundane things as beautiful. Her writing genuinely makes me forget that this is not a classic and I’m always floored when she mentions something modern as her writing makes me believe this was made in the 1800s. Even thought he book was long and there was a lot of fluff I didn’t find myself getting bored at a single point, which is surprising for a book as long as this one.
Overall, The Secret History is a great book and I would highly recommend (thought I’d be more inclined to recommend it to a ‘bookworm’, as if you were someone who was only just trying to get into reading I could understand how you could become board). The Secret History is a must read and I’m looking forward to read more of Donna Tartt’s work if it’s anything like this.
All the characters in ‘The Secret History’ were interesting and had many layers, though none of them were made to be likeable. I enjoyed reading about them as they had a lifestyle and way of thinking so incredible different to my own. All the characters were so fucked up but it made the book even better and it was written so well that I often found myself sympathising with them. I had a particular fondness for the character Francis as I thought he was the most relatable and probably the most sane one out of all of them. Anxious, gay, dramatic, red-head, that’s literally the key pillars that hold up my personality. Also he’s iconic with one-liners like “If you drank as much as he does, I daresay I would’ve been to bed with you, too.” Iconic behaviour.
On a more serious topic Tartt’s writing is absolutely phenomenal. She manages to describe even the most mundane things as beautiful. Her writing genuinely makes me forget that this is not a classic and I’m always floored when she mentions something modern as her writing makes me believe this was made in the 1800s. Even thought he book was long and there was a lot of fluff I didn’t find myself getting bored at a single point, which is surprising for a book as long as this one.
Overall, The Secret History is a great book and I would highly recommend (thought I’d be more inclined to recommend it to a ‘bookworm’, as if you were someone who was only just trying to get into reading I could understand how you could become board). The Secret History is a must read and I’m looking forward to read more of Donna Tartt’s work if it’s anything like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Homophobia, Xenophobia
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Biphobia, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
good, but at moments, less so.
i actually quite enjoy tartt’s writerly voice—others i know have critiqued what they consider long winded tangents that exist for the sole purpose of employing excessive flowery language, but i myself have always liked the meandering introspections of a narrator, especially one as inward-facing as richard is.
there were moments that had me questioning if there was a line drawn between an intentional, satirical portrayal of pompous classics majors and her genuine thoughts on the subject. the whole “we’re different and special and better than everyone for studying a topic that old white european men have been circle jerking about for centuries now” bit has gotten a bit old, and a bit too real as a recovering classics minor. there is much to the field that exists outside this, so seeing classics centered stories lean heavily into this idea time and time again has left me more than a little fatigued. however, this was more prevalent in the first portion of the book which gave me hope as i was reading that it was indeed the former, and the closing act was my final confirmation.
the ending was shocking, but at the same time not. a very greek ending, befitting of such a group.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, Racial slurs, Violence, Toxic friendship, Classism
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed reading this novel. The immersive plot unfolds slowly, in beautiful, descriptive language. The characters, whilst not likeable, are interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicide, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Violence, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
dark
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Didn't write a review when I read this 10 years ago but gave 3 stars back then. I definitely liked it less this time around.
The characters are so unlikeable and the pace at times painfully slow. The second half of the book in particular is a slog and longer than necessary. The ending is unsatisfying.
Lots of unchallenged bigotry. To be expected with a book from the 90s with an elitist setting. It's just not enjoyable for me.
Audiobook: Didn't love the author's narration.
The characters are so unlikeable and the pace at times painfully slow. The second half of the book in particular is a slog and longer than necessary. The ending is unsatisfying.
Lots of unchallenged bigotry. To be expected with a book from the 90s with an elitist setting. It's just not enjoyable for me.
Audiobook: Didn't love the author's narration.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Classism
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Eating disorder, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Antisemitism
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Characters: 5.5/10
These people are like mannequins dressed in philosophical monologues. Richard is the literary equivalent of beige paint—he watches, he narrates, he adds nothing. Camilla is a sentient soft-focus lens, described with all the emotional depth of a perfume ad. And Henry? If a thesaurus grew legs and developed a god complex, it’d be him. They all orbit each other in a haze of cigarettes and classical illusions, but their actual relationships feel manufactured and hollow. Bunny’s the only one with a discernible pulse, and even that’s mostly beer and bad opinions. They’re distinctive, yes. Believable, no. And likable? Absolutely not.
These people are like mannequins dressed in philosophical monologues. Richard is the literary equivalent of beige paint—he watches, he narrates, he adds nothing. Camilla is a sentient soft-focus lens, described with all the emotional depth of a perfume ad. And Henry? If a thesaurus grew legs and developed a god complex, it’d be him. They all orbit each other in a haze of cigarettes and classical illusions, but their actual relationships feel manufactured and hollow. Bunny’s the only one with a discernible pulse, and even that’s mostly beer and bad opinions. They’re distinctive, yes. Believable, no. And likable? Absolutely not.
Atmosphere/Setting: 9.5/10
Here’s where Tartt earns her keep. Hampden College is peak aesthetic: gothic academia with a side of existential dread. The snow falls like a blanket of secrets, the buildings loom with silent menace, and the setting does all the heavy lifting. If I rated this book on vibe alone, it’d be a masterpiece. Unfortunately, atmosphere is the wine-dark sea that hides the fact the ship is full of holes.
Here’s where Tartt earns her keep. Hampden College is peak aesthetic: gothic academia with a side of existential dread. The snow falls like a blanket of secrets, the buildings loom with silent menace, and the setting does all the heavy lifting. If I rated this book on vibe alone, it’d be a masterpiece. Unfortunately, atmosphere is the wine-dark sea that hides the fact the ship is full of holes.
Writing Style: 6.5/10
Tartt’s prose straddles the line between hauntingly lyrical and embarrassingly overwritten. It’s like she wants to make sure you know she’s read everything from Plato to Poe, and by god, you’re going to hear about it. The cadence is lovely, the vocabulary rich, but after a while, it feels like being cornered at a party by someone reciting Yeats for attention. Occasionally brilliant, but too often self-indulgent.
Tartt’s prose straddles the line between hauntingly lyrical and embarrassingly overwritten. It’s like she wants to make sure you know she’s read everything from Plato to Poe, and by god, you’re going to hear about it. The cadence is lovely, the vocabulary rich, but after a while, it feels like being cornered at a party by someone reciting Yeats for attention. Occasionally brilliant, but too often self-indulgent.
Plot: 4.5/10
This book starts with a murder and then takes forever to do anything interesting with it. There’s no escalation, just endless conversations about Greek philosophy, wool sweaters, and moral decay. By the time something actually happens, I had to remind myself why I was supposed to care. It tries to be a tragedy in the classical sense, but without the momentum, stakes, or emotional investment to earn it. If I wanted to watch pretentious people sulk for hours, I’d go to a film studies mixer.
This book starts with a murder and then takes forever to do anything interesting with it. There’s no escalation, just endless conversations about Greek philosophy, wool sweaters, and moral decay. By the time something actually happens, I had to remind myself why I was supposed to care. It tries to be a tragedy in the classical sense, but without the momentum, stakes, or emotional investment to earn it. If I wanted to watch pretentious people sulk for hours, I’d go to a film studies mixer.
Intrigue: 5.5/10
I was curious—for about the first hundred pages. Then the intrigue gave way to inertia. I kept waiting for that promised spiral into madness, but instead got a slow-motion collapse padded with grandiloquent fluff. It dangles questions—Why did they do it? Will they get caught?—but doesn’t seem too interested in answering them, just in watching everyone drink scotch and quote Aeschylus.
I was curious—for about the first hundred pages. Then the intrigue gave way to inertia. I kept waiting for that promised spiral into madness, but instead got a slow-motion collapse padded with grandiloquent fluff. It dangles questions—Why did they do it? Will they get caught?—but doesn’t seem too interested in answering them, just in watching everyone drink scotch and quote Aeschylus.
Logic/Relationships: 3.5/10
The characters’ decisions barely track with human behavior, unless you assume everyone involved has a mild psychosis and a dictionary addiction. The “friendship” dynamic makes no sense: why is Richard even in this group, other than to narrate it? Why do any of them stay loyal to each other? The logic of the world is a hot mess—no professors, no consequences, no one notices a kid is missing for days. The book wants to be mythic, but the relationships are cardboard cutouts dressed in tragic drag.
The characters’ decisions barely track with human behavior, unless you assume everyone involved has a mild psychosis and a dictionary addiction. The “friendship” dynamic makes no sense: why is Richard even in this group, other than to narrate it? Why do any of them stay loyal to each other? The logic of the world is a hot mess—no professors, no consequences, no one notices a kid is missing for days. The book wants to be mythic, but the relationships are cardboard cutouts dressed in tragic drag.
Enjoyment: 5/10
Look, I wanted to love it. I wanted to sink into the vibe, clutch a teacup, and whisper “how profound” into the night. But once you peel away the atmospheric lacquer, you’re left with a story that’s slow, self-important, and emotionally cold. It has its moments—lines that cut, images that linger—but it’s buried under the weight of its own ego. I finished it because I was already too deep in to quit. Not because I cared. Not because it was fun. Because I was hoping it would become the book it thinks it is. Spoiler: it doesn’t.
Look, I wanted to love it. I wanted to sink into the vibe, clutch a teacup, and whisper “how profound” into the night. But once you peel away the atmospheric lacquer, you’re left with a story that’s slow, self-important, and emotionally cold. It has its moments—lines that cut, images that linger—but it’s buried under the weight of its own ego. I finished it because I was already too deep in to quit. Not because I cared. Not because it was fun. Because I was hoping it would become the book it thinks it is. Spoiler: it doesn’t.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent
The book heavily romanticizes intellectual elitism, which may be frustrating or off-putting to some readers.
The pacing is very slow, and the story focuses more on atmosphere and character psychology than action.
The characters are largely unlikable, which may impact reader engagement.
Themes of moral decay, classical philosophy, and the consequences of unchecked privilege are central to the story.
dark
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very engaging audiobook. The author reads it and does the book justice and kept me locked in. Characters are terrible people but their problems were uniquely laid out that I felt like there solutions were somewhat justified.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Physical abuse, Murder
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
this pace crawled for me— I think a lot could’ve been trimmed. but the story itself was thought-provoking and insightful
rich people are crazy lol
rich people are crazy lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism
Moderate: Incest
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked the prose. Tartt does a great job of describing the setting and the atmosphere. I felt like I really was there along the bleached-white birch trees in the winter and the warm, lazy, lilac-scented countryside in the spring.
Each character of the main cast had distinct characteristics but background characters felt blurred together sometimes.
Each character of the main cast had distinct characteristics but background characters felt blurred together sometimes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Incest, Forced institutionalization
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Medical content, Religious bigotry
Minor: Cursing, Toxic friendship, Classism