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quixie's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
briochebun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Love doesn’t conquer everything. And whoever thinks it does is a fool.”
ੈ✩‧₊˚
The Secret History has been on my TBR for quite some time and I am so glad that I finally put some time aside to read it.
While I cannot say that my life was forever altered by this novel (though my feelings on that may change with time) I feel as though giving it anything less than 4 starts would be doing it an immense disservice. Readers of TSH will be able to see the impact that the novel has had on the Dark Academia genre and I think that in and of itself is an incredible feat that speaks to Tartt’s skill.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent
Minor: Kidnapping
ro_lux's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical content and Outing
dizzy_mittz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Vomit, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Incest
caelinsullivan's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Islamophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual assault
k1rzaka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death
dancingwithourhandstied's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Incest, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Car accident
Minor: Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, Rape, Sexual violence, and Murder
wtf!pbthealien's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Without spoiling the plot, I believe the narrative was divisive and engaging throughout, while still deeply linking to the novel’s core themes. The juxtaposition of the groups’ erratic and cruel actions and their sophisticated environment serves to highlight their depravity even more.
Richard, specifically, was a character who felt like a blank slate in the best way. He is the Everyman in a sea of wealthy elites, who is just along for the ride with the others. He is the only part of the book on which I am torn. I would have loved to see his character expanded upon more considering he was the MC, but his (relatively) passive role in the plot serves to provide a reliable narration.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
talia1353's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Minor: Injury/Injury detail