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mirivii's review against another edition
- 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
I don't know what Donna Tartt laced these pages with ... probably cocaine? I could not put this book down. Had me reading at night, which has not happened since I was a teenager 🥴
The plot was beautifully built and her way of writing it's so captivating. Her views on how to build suspense are refreshing, and the fact that this is a 1992 novel speaks for itself.
Much like the main character Richard, the first half of the book is set up on adoring this clique of literary and elitist students. You want to (want to) be them, with them, as erudite as them. As their flaws come to light they are viewed as whimsical and exciting, just to add to the mystic aura that they project.
What I really liked: the disenchantment of Richard in the second part of the book – the way the spell was broken and just like an addict that stopped being elated by their presence, he sees the mess all around and within them. The god-adjacent portrait of the chosen humans; the analogies to classical myths; how Bunny flew too close to the sun and his fall.
What I wish we saw more of: The twins' psychology – they were both lambs until one of them turned wolf almost inexplicably. What really happened during the bacchanal and what is up with Julian.
For what concerns the bacchanal, I could even live without knowing what went down. As Richard says in the book, when he reads biographies of serial killers, they tend to fixate on the most mundane things instead of the villainous acts and desires. It could be kind of the same here – I admit that the whole bacchanal ordeal was far more fascinating to me than the murder.
Something that I cannot get over is Julian Morrow, described as this wise whisperer that fascinates the smarts and eludes the mundanes. And yet we see that he is merely a human too. How could Henry be so violently attached to such a haughty person? He could have surely seen beyond Julian's most superficial attitude and his pride. Is Julian supposed to be seen as the Christians' almighty God? Above everything, interested in nothing, incapable (or unwilling) of aid.
Anyway, glad that I stumbled upon the BBC's Donna Tartt interview as hearing her speak was what made be grab the book from my to-be-read shelf.
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Death, Gaslighting, Incest, Suicide, Classism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Racism, and Racial slurs
Minor: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
jessfastlane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Death, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, and Drug use
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Islamophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, and Drug abuse
Minor: Antisemitism, Death of parent, Incest, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Domestic abuse
rosaleekarisma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Death
Moderate: Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Antisemitism, Grief, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Addiction, Incest, Medical content, Violence, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Self harm, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Rape, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, and Death of parent
intrusive thoughtsnicoleme1212's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Murder, Addiction, Bullying, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, and Sexism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Antisemitism, Gaslighting, Blood, Chronic illness, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Eating disorder
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, Homophobia, Racism, Toxic friendship, Classism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Addiction, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Self harm
Minor: Rape, Death of parent, and Eating disorder
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: Murder, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Drug use, and Suicide
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Incest, 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: Blood, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Alcoholism, Addiction, Animal death, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Incest, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Misogyny, Racism, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Bullying, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide, and Confinement
Moderate: Medical content and Eating disorder
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual content, Ableism, Vomit, Antisemitism, Infidelity, Car accident, and Cancer
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: Alcohol, Death, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Violence, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Incest, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Classism, Drug use, Homophobia, Medical content, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
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: Incest, Death, Suicide, Gun violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Animal death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Animal cruelty, and Grief
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: Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, Incest, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicide, Animal death, Classism, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Antisemitism, Blood, Drug abuse, Racism, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, War, and Emotional abuse