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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In my humble opinion, this book was unnecessarily long and dragged all the way to the end. What intrigued me most was the ritual and what the group of friends chose to do afterwards. But jokes on me, the ritual itself was not particularly compelling either. The so-called friends were equally unpleasant, each as flawed and insufferable as the next. I cannot help but feel this story could have been told in about three hundred pages rather than stretching to five hundred.
I never truly understood this group of friends. They were all college students from wealthy and privileged backgrounds, behaving like classist elitists. Their lives revolved around alcohol and drugs, and their dynamic was messy at best. Some characters were gay or bisexual, which was fine in itself, but the way relationships were portrayed felt shallow, tangled and careless. For example, Francis is gay, but the way his character was written felt almost tokenistic, often reduced to unsettling moments where he seemed desperate to get into his straight friends’ beds. It was uncomfortable and added nothing meaningful to his character beyond cliché. Even worse, the twins in the group were involved in an incestuous relationship, which was disturbing and deeply uncomfortable to read. I got the feeling the author wanted readers to see this as part of the cultish, transgressive atmosphere, or simply as a shock factor. Poor Camilla, in particular, was used repeatedly as a plot device, pushed from one man to another with little agency of her own.
At first, I thought perhaps this was simply a strange but tight-knit group who would at least support each other in times of need. They did, in a way, but it quickly became clear that loyalty within this circle was built on secrecy and cover-ups. When one of them crossed a line, the others rushed to protect themselves, not out of genuine friendship but out of self-preservation, and soon enough cracks began to appear. Richard, the narrator, was dull and passive, more like a loyal dog tagging along than a genuine equal in the group. I honestly do not understand why they included him at all. The other characters failed to stand out too, and though this might be unpopular, I felt Bunny was the only one with a real personality, even if he was unbearable.
As for the ending, I did not see it coming, but it was hardly groundbreaking. Henry’s so-called solution was ridiculous, and while I understand the point was for Richard to finally realise how toxic his friends were, I felt we already knew that from the very beginning. The novel did not need five hundred pages to tell us what was obvious right from the start. Even after Bunny’s death, the group carried on with little true remorse, returning to their self-indulgent and detached ways.
Overall, I found this a frustrating read. It had an intriguing premise but, for me, failed to deliver.
the ending was so chilling and sad, even to the last page i didn’t hate any of them. 4.5 stars because it was almost unnecessarily long, but i enjoyed this slice of life with a splash of conspiracy book very much
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
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
Excellent. A great read. Reads like a classic.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Deep in the depths of academia, studying high brow literature and language, these six students have their own exclusive club, enjoying the finer things in life and deliberating over philosophical ideologies. Richard, coming from an unhappy family background, is eager to be included in this group, with their own rules and way of life.
From the beginning, we are told that Bunny is murdered, but the details are a mystery, with foreshadowing and small breadcrumbs fed to the reader as the story progresses. The story often meanders and the action is sparse, but it never gets boring or repetitive. The characters are complex and rather peculiar, and their interactions are always unexpected and often inexplicable. There is an overarching self-importance that pervades the narrative, such as the addition of Latin sayings in the dialogue. For the most part, these college students do whatever they want, with little regard to school rules, financial constraints, or consequences of any kind. The students are privileged, amoral, and completely self-absorbed, dealing with rampant alcoholism and substance abuse. Their actions lead to dire consequences, and they show little remorse or morality.
However, I do wish there was more context about how the group came to be and why they were chosen by Julian. None of them are particularly interested in Greek, and they don't spend much time in class. It is puzzling what holds the group together as they continue to treat each other terribly, enabling bad behavior and committing crimes frivolously.
Despite the length of this book and its unconventional approach, the writing style made this book flow seamlessly. Considering the pretentious tone Tartt imbued into the text, the compellingly accessible prose is quite an impressive achievement. Her storytelling skills are undeniable in telling this chronicle of highly unlikable characters with few redeeming qualities.
This book is the epitome of a Greek tragedy - characterized by its exploration of human suffering, fate, and the consequences of bad decisions.
From the beginning, we are told that Bunny is murdered, but the details are a mystery, with foreshadowing and small breadcrumbs fed to the reader as the story progresses. The story often meanders and the action is sparse, but it never gets boring or repetitive. The characters are complex and rather peculiar, and their interactions are always unexpected and often inexplicable. There is an overarching self-importance that pervades the narrative, such as the addition of Latin sayings in the dialogue. For the most part, these college students do whatever they want, with little regard to school rules, financial constraints, or consequences of any kind. The students are privileged, amoral, and completely self-absorbed, dealing with rampant alcoholism and substance abuse. Their actions lead to dire consequences, and they show little remorse or morality.
However, I do wish there was more context about how the group came to be and why they were chosen by Julian. None of them are particularly interested in Greek, and they don't spend much time in class. It is puzzling what holds the group together as they continue to treat each other terribly, enabling bad behavior and committing crimes frivolously.
Despite the length of this book and its unconventional approach, the writing style made this book flow seamlessly. Considering the pretentious tone Tartt imbued into the text, the compellingly accessible prose is quite an impressive achievement. Her storytelling skills are undeniable in telling this chronicle of highly unlikable characters with few redeeming qualities.
This book is the epitome of a Greek tragedy - characterized by its exploration of human suffering, fate, and the consequences of bad decisions.
It’s difficult to explain this book, I would say it’s perfect, but it’s not. You will simply need to read.