Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Secret History (Abridged Version) by Donna Tartt

1076 reviews

joslyn_cole's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Murder, Mental illness, Self harm, Drug abuse, Addiction, Violence, Gun violence, Death, and Alcoholism

miriam_mal's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I originally put 4 stars but changed to 3. While the plot held my interest everyone was so despicable and their decisions so morally bankrupt that it did actually detract from my enjoyment. These people need jobs and responsibility beyond drinking, drugs, and experimenting with bacchanals lol. I understand the narrative POV doesn’t show any of it in too forgiving of a light but then the main character/narrator is no better than them at all. Bunch of irritating idiots really. It was suspenseful tho

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Incest, Animal death, and Rape

mcosmic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• 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: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Murder, and Addiction

Moderate: Incest, Blood, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Drug abuse, Self harm, and Sexism

nadinabdugabit's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

great book, good use of mystery. I dont typically love murder books but this one had me finishing it within a week .

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, and Suicide

Moderate: Incest and Homophobia

Minor: Racial slurs

emimcmanis's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Classism, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Mental illness, Murder, Xenophobia, Violence, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexual content

angela_iseli's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Classism, Drug abuse, Suicide, Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Racism and Antisemitism

idahol7221's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Classism, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexism, Antisemitism, Blood, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Incest

frankahilde's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious tense 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

4.75

This is one of the most challenging books I’ve ever read. (Especially since English is my second language) But I’m so glad I finally did it! Even though nothing much really happened when it gets down to it, I was so immersed in the story and really enjoyed reading, even though it was challenging for me. I really like how you go from liking, to hating, to loving, to disliking the characters, because that’s essentially what the book is about (for me at least). It’s almost infuriating how the characters think they know it all because they are smart and educated but actually make the worst decisions possible throughout the whole book. It’s written very beautifully though and I think I’ll think about it for a while!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Death

Moderate: Violence, Homophobia, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Incest, and Murder

saint_eleanor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This is definitely worth the hype. The characters are so intense and the writing is so so good. You really start to feel for all of them and like be angry at them etc. You also start to see like how far people are willing to go to impress eachother/ maintain their social standing and financial status. A really good look at humanity and banality and violence and all that jazz. My only qualm is the

ending, bc what the heck like I just wanted more closure or something. Like yes it was really crazy but it wasn't crazy enough for the book to be setting up for that for so long yk.

And also I loved the scary ass magical realism undertones (the "deer" they kept seeing that they thought was Dionysus.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest

Moderate: Animal death, Sexual harassment, and Death

tashiface's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Grief, Incest, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Racism, Murder, Death, Drug use, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Alcoholism