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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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Blood
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Death of parent
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: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Stalking
Minor: Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
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: Death, Suicide, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, 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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Antisemitism, and Gaslighting
Minor: Eating disorder and Death of parent
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