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eliever'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Incest, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Eating disorder, Rape, and Death of parent
booksandbabies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I definitely liked it a lot. I loved the writing style and the characters, eventhough they are all horrible people. Somehow I did feel like they were real people making horrible, but in a way natural given the context, mistakes one after the other. Everybody is so freaking flawed in this book, it can't help but make you feel sad by the end.
The book was written in 2004 and was an instant hit. I am however kind of glad it took me so long to read because it gave me that same feeling I get from newer books that take place in the recent past. Not quite nostalgia, but like historical fiction about a time you remember vividly. No cellphones means no sure way to contact your friends even in emergencies and this felt like a very real and essential element, especially in the second part of the book.
I loved all the snobish references to Latin, Greek and Classic English literature. I understand thi is meant to underline the characters' obnoxiousness, but I kind of liked them for it.
In the end the pacing was a bit off for me. After the main event at the end of part one, I definitely had some 'where are we going with this'feelings. It felt like most of the book were vibes over plot, witnessing the main characters' descent into paranoia and madness.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicide, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
Minor: Homophobia and Death of parent
taleofabibliophile's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Eating disorder and Medical content
Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, Antisemitism, Car accident, and Death of parent
lyrapollock'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
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
hettyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Suicide, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
kayabennett'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Incest, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Vomit, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and War
elisabeth_with_an_ess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Secret History is a story about murder, but the who and what are revealed right from the start. What remains is a fascinating, twisted exploration of the why and how. The writing is brilliant, at times making me feel as if I myself had committed the crime.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Drug abuse, Incest, Suicide attempt, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, and Death of parent
laurajordensharris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
siennakt30's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
gheddi's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol