Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Die geheime Geschichte by Donna Tartt

1943 reviews

slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book should have been 250 pages. 

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I may not have liked some things (which is why it’s not a 5) but this is genuinely one of the best books I have ever read. It’s so beautifully written and it’s so easy to just get lost in it.

I’m also tired of reviewers calling Richard an “unreliable narrator”. He’s the most reliable character in this book. The problem is, he’s often left in the dark, and he lies to himself. 

I didn’t like that Camille being the only girl and supposedly sleeping with them all. Even her twin. Henry joked about that crazy ritual in the forest being a sex ritual. I hated it. The ending wasn’t great either.


I liked how the MC struggled with his own insecurities so he desperately sought them in others. He just wanted to belong to something he’d never be able to reach. I don’t think any of the characters particularly liked him, they just used him. He was a pawn. And that was really, really sad. When Charlie’s fired the gun, the main character reflected that none of them even realized he had been shot. As always, they were paying attention to each other.

I’m not entirely sure what Henry was up to at the end, but I think he was unraveling quickly, and I think Richard was the target. 

Henry has accidentally killed a farmer, murdered Bunny, tried to kill Charles and was apparently planning something for Richard. Even though Henry had literally saved Richard’s life the year before. 

Bunny’s death was truly heartbreaking. He was the only character that actually told the truth, in his own way. He told Richard about Francis being gay, about Henry being a psychopath, the twins sleeping together…all of it. No one believed him. He told Richard the truth and he didn’t believe him, and when he was gone, Richard was left completely in the dark from there on out.

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challenging dark funny mysterious 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

I love books about awful people. Really digging down into them and exposing the full scope of the shittiness before seeing them reap the rewards of their terrible decisions. Plus the book is really funny in places. Bunny's essay is a particular highlight.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Donna Tartt is a master manipulator. She fluidly guides readers through a set of twisted, harrowing events, causing you to leave all morality behind. The language with which she frames this narrative is captivating, vivid, and hauntingly honest. The characters are incredibly complex, and when you’re done reading you’ll hate them as much as you love them. Tartt has a way of seeing through her characters, exposing and exploring all of their flaws in a beautifully orchestrated disaster. Not an easy read, but well worth every word on the page. 

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dark 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

I'm going back and forth a lot about this one. It has good writing and you really get immersed in it, but it really doesn't make you feel all that great about it. It highlights a lot of the depravity of the human condition, with vices and dishonesty. I didn't really like the book, but not because the writing is poor, but because it's such an uncomfortable read. 

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dark mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Wild book. Prose is fantastic. Was not expecting most of what happened in this book. 

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dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Not a single likeable character in sight, but I adored the writing. Keen to read the other two Tartt novels now, and anything else she puts out in the future. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings