Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

323 reviews

fluttertutter's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I’m not sure how to feel reading this book. It reads like an autobiography or perhaps like a memoir/ recount by Richard about the events leading to and after Bunny’s death. It does keep me engaged for most of the part but the pacing of the book was really slowww, especially after Bunny’s death. I do get that it helps to build up but I think i just prefer books that have a faster pace. Throughout the book, the author (Richard?) tries to justify (explains?) why Bunny should die and it was quite persuasive I would say 😛 Very interesting because it made me think that hey maybe Bunny did deserve it. The characters also felt real and unique - each one of them acting in a way that I feel like ‘hey that is so him/her’ which shows vvv good writing!! Julian was an interesting character too - not sure how but his lessons captivated me too?!! although my lack of greek related knowledge makes it a bit hard to understand. That said, the book was still tooooooo slow in my opinion and I wished it just moved faster cos it took me forever to read it and i’m not sure if all the parts were necessary to make up the story. 

The ending shocked me but it did feel like a Henry thing to do. I feel like I have a lot of questions about the credibility of the story - is Richard actually a credible source?? did he actually know everything?? and how he accepted the Bacchanal feels so sus like ????? that’s it??? Overall it’s still good writing and definitely a good story but i just have so many questions and it was way too slow after Bunny’s death it became a 4 star read

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Addiction, Suicide, Alcohol, and Murder

Moderate: Incest, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship

sydfay03's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

impressed me with its expert writing and kept me guessing up until the end but can’t say that this book was to my taste. i usually like a dark academia, but i felt very disconnected from these characters and the general story. read it quickly only because of my impending book club deadline and my morbid fascination with the story. but overall have to give it points for just how incredible the writing is (so twisty yet somehow it typically lined up with the plot/character development) and the fact that this book has stayed so relevant despite it being three decades old

*edit the next day*
okay coming back to this im knocking it down a bit because thinking back, there were some really unnecessary misogynist and homophobic undertones that grated on me while reading this. like camilla was the most well-rounded and thought out female character and she still was only a sex object for the other main characters. and at times this book was incredibly boring and if i didn’t have my deadline it would have taken me much longer to get through it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

Moderate: Physical abuse

Minor: Self harm

sofi_dlms's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Incest, Physical abuse, Animal death, and Panic attacks/disorders

bea2001's review against another edition

dark tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Murder, Classism, and Drug use

Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Physical abuse, Suicide, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, and Addiction

Minor: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, and Rape

lxyeey's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Physical abuse, Self harm, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Incest, and Suicide attempt

sadiaa's review against another edition

dark

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Self harm, and Sexual harassment

libby_herz's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Made me feel icky but wonderfully written and a creative story 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Alcohol, Death, Blood, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, Self harm, and Toxic friendship

jupitervivienne's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My first 5 star read of the year. Just absolutely incredible writing, character study, and storytelling. Makes me want to get familiar with Greek and Classics just so I can understand this book on a deeper level. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Blood, Physical abuse, Violence, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Suicide, and Death

Moderate: Incest

Minor: Self harm, Rape, and Antisemitism

kaia_c's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Murder, Suicide, Sexual content, and Physical abuse

evasophias's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

so good BUT she did not have to be 500+ pages long, it draaaaags in the beginning. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Classism, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence