Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

364 reviews

skiwi_'s review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

tessmcn's review against another edition

dark mysterious relaxing slow-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

3.75

Okay, I’m sorry but why do you make the main character the most BORING character. He seems to miss everything and you just get recounts of what happened in dialogue - which isn’t bad by any means, but it’s not the most thrilling to hear second hand stories all the way through. Loved the first 300ish pages but then it dragged on.

did we really need to walk through the entirety of Bunny’s funeral?? absolutely not.

Judy Poovey is the protagonist, queen, and saving grace for the Boring Richard and I will die on this hill. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

pastelbread's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, and Self harm

Minor: Cancer, Physical abuse, and Rape

neliadiedenise's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

gothmiku's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Incest, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Body horror, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

ashsparrow's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, and Classism

kimveach's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

3.5

This book is hard to review and equally hard to rate.  I both liked it and was annoyed by it.  It was slowly paced, but the further I got into the book, the more I wanted to finish it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kshy's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

beckyg1016's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

2.0

The book description seems, to me, incredibly misleading. "Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor" - you mean the one who barely shows up at all, has minimal lines, and doesn't seem to influence anyone but Henry.  Henry is the driving force of this story and all of its actors. "...discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries." - You mean that one time? While that event is the catalyst for all others, it is not the point of the story - these characters don't "find a new way of thinking and living" - they spend a semester trying to avoid getting caught for a crime they are only somewhat remorseful about and then move on with their lives in much the same way as all of their "humdrum" classmates. 
Additionally, as noted in the Content Warnings section, Bunny is a difficult character to read. I get that you aren't supposed to like him, he is typical for the time, etc. but I was uncomfortable nearly every time he opened his mouth and that, at least, puts you on the side of the other characters. I surely did not miss him once he was gone.
To be fair, Tartt has a lovely writing voice. If she didn't, this would absolutely be my first DNF of the year. The story was captivating for maybe 250/550 pages - the rest was just a push to finish so I could move on to the next book in my TBR pile.
Every book has its reader - and I've seen plenty of people giving this book high ratings - so maybe that reader is you, and you will love it. I hope so. It certainly wasn't for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Gore, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicide, Islamophobia, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Classism

nike_winter's review against another edition

dark inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Incest

Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Self harm, and Sexual assault