Reviews

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

charcaucci23's review against another edition

4.0

i’m so confused and conflicted and mad and screaming and crying. i want to hate this book so much i wish i could rate it 1 star and say it’s the worst thing ever but i physically cannot hate it because it’s so good. it’s horrible and i hate it but it’s just so good.

texasted73's review against another edition

5.0

I’m not the person I was before I read this.

okpriyanka's review against another edition

4.0

This should probably be a 4.5, one I may even bump up to a 5 in the coming weeks. It had its moments and was definitely very, very dense, but it took place in a world that was completely immersive to an overwhelming degree — every time I took a break from reading, my mind would feel foggy, as though I was remembering where I actually was. I can't stop thinking about it!!

noraesreadsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

4.75

gjones1998's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense 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

4.5

"Fake it til you make it" leads to being Accessory to a homicide. 

ndeniseg105's review against another edition

4.0

Great book! Once I got about 20% through I couldn't put it down. This is a longer novel, but I breezed through it because it was such a page-turner. My only complaint is that I felt like eventually, something would shock me, but it ended up being quite a predictable story.

The characters aren't likable in any sense of the word, but Tartt did an excellent job of putting you into the headspace of the narrating character. Frequently I would find myself looking at certain characters from an overly pretentious viewpoint, which is befitting. The ending didn't completely satisfy me, but it was a great read nonetheless.

faintgirl's review against another edition

5.0

I absolutely loved this book! I was gripped from the outset, despite the fact that the action is pretty slow to occur. The Secret History tells of a bunch of elite rich kids at a state University taught by the mysterious and enigmatic Julian in the ways of Greek and Latin. The tightly knit students have seperated themselves from the generally moronic student body so that no one is aware of the depths of their obsession with the subject they study. When Richard, a poor student from the Californian coast decides to try and join them in their studies, events quickly spiral out of control.

Despite being a lengthy novel, The Secret History is beautifully written, sinister, full of suspense and small but masterful twists. Her characters are generally unlikeabloe, full of selfish malice, but the depths that they come to dredge are fascinating to the end. A highly recommended read!

jbolduc96's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

kirstenrose22's review against another edition

4.0

I read this 10-12 years ago, and remember enjoying it (and a little about the central murder). The characters are so awful. It's very atmospheric, and a good one to read during a New England winter.

kelly_collins's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0