Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

ההיסטוריה הסודית by Donna Tartt

484 reviews

stierwood's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Lots of highlights and low points, including but not limited to the 2 dimensionality of the only female character, the page-turning aspect, the dialogue & prose being both incredibly descriptive/beautiful/smart & pretentious/awkward at the same time, the sharp and interesting (except for camilla) and highly dislikeable characters, and the incest 😟 much to unpack. Deeply disturbed

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

vnfhcxksiw's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

finleigh's review against another edition

4.5

dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Violence

abibliophobic_nerd's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Islamophobia, Grief

melliedm's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Islamophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Classism

Minor: Rape

james1star's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark informative reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The Secret History is undoubtedly a very well written and theorised book, Tartt gifts us, in my opinion, the perfect balance of plot and character analysis alongside some truly exquisite passages. Without including many spoilers, all I can say for the plot is we follow the student Richard Papen as he tells the story of his time at Hampden College in Vermont. Not wanting to neglect the Greek he had previously studied, he joins the cohort headed by the odd teacher that is Julian, becoming close to him and his fellow classmates: Henry, Francis, Edmund (Bunny) and the twins Charles and Camilla. This group who I called ‘the Greeks’ in my notes lead fairly strange lives from fellow students at the college but one that certainly intrigues Richard. And then things happen… 

This is for sure a Big Brain Energy book: there’s untranslated Ancient Greek, Latin and French in it, multi-syntaxes sentences containing ‘()’s ‘-‘s and lists within, parts inferred and much more. So whilst it’s not the most accessible and definitely makes you think, it’s still an enjoyable reading experience. Some parts went over my head but I did feel a bit intelligent I guess reading it. This may put some people off and I get that but personally I could follow well enough and enjoyed the engagement of my brain at times. The way Tartt pulls it all together with a multilayered plot and very nuanced characters shows her BBE off, she clearly knows her stuff and I guess wanted to show this off - however, the story and flow isn’t negatively impacted in doing so. I absolutely loved how parts were pieced together and everything just clicks in place, so so good! 

The characters are primarily unlikable but you get to know them so well and in such depth that at times you do root for them, in essence wanting the baddies to get away with it. But they are jarringgggggggg. Like wow did they annoy me and it does get quite repetitive at points too. I think Bunny was the character I liked least and Francis most but there is nuance for days in this book. The developments, analysis and interactions between the characters is all done very well and intelligently so. 

The things I didn’t particularly like all that much was how about the page 400 mark I felt it was at a great ending point but then it kept on going… and going… and going. I still enjoyed these parts in terms of writing style but the actual events weren’t to my taste in all honestly with certain plot points, a major plot twist I didn’t see coming, didn’t really add up all that well. Therefore, the messages the book portrays weren’t the best specifically in terms of suicide and reasons why people are led to it - a bit too much was left to the imagination. I also felt in this final third that I had spent too long with these characters (I’m not accustomed to long books btw) and their annoying qualities shone out a bit too much. I’d say an enhanced epilogue might have been a better solution or thinning out this part of the book I’d have preferred. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book but look into the trigger warnings first as there are quite a few and know it’s written in a BBE pretentious way that might not appeal to everyone. I’m glad I read it and would be one I’d be interested in revisiting in a few years to see if I could get more out it. I’ve also just written this after finishing the book so I might add to this review in the coming days or possibly make a video for my YouTube channel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Alcohol

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Classism

Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail

ritugp01's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This novel was lauded as a modern classic from Pulitzer-winning author Donna Tart. I wholeheartedly agree. The disdain that filled me for all the characters in various classics like The Great Gatsby, Giovanni's Room, etc, also permeated throughout the experience of reading The Secret History. I consider this further evidence that it is an exquisite piece of literature.

The novel has been described as "a murder mystery in reverse." While this is a perfect description, the book is also a deep look in how easily murder occurs, even in seemingly normal people, as long as one opens themselves to the possibility. 

In a tl;dr character analysis: Henry was utterly unhinged and I think I loved him regardless. Richard, the narrator was mediocre but served his purpose as a voyeur to multiple murders.  Charles and Camilla? WTF. But also, they both sucked and I cannot decide who was worse. Francis is the only valid character but he's on this ice too. Julian is just Henry but older and willing to fake social skills. Lowkey, Bunny sucked but damn I feel bad he was killed. Like, he was just freaking out that his friends committed MURDER, it's totally understandable he was on the edge of a psychotic break. This book was a lot, and Judy Poovey is the only good person in the whole story.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Antisemitism, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Classism

em_gauts's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Outing, Gaslighting

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking

itsocchiolism's review against another edition

2.75

challenging dark mysterious 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

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i wanted to like this book so much, especially after all the hype around it but it just wasn’t for me. i didn’t like the characters at all and couldn’t sympathize with them. they all need therapy, and deserved to go to jail.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Classism

Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence

Minor: Rape

dabaucherry's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Altered my brain chemistry. I was hooked. The amount of things I felt in the last chapter are unexplainable. I absolutely love how the secret history does not romanticize the concept of dark academia but actually shows the truth. the characters, oh the characters, absolutely marvellous. at times, the book got me questioning the narrator himself. "was everything he narrating the truth? for all we know he could be telling us bits and pieces" but despite all of that, I would honestly recomment this book to anyone who's looking into venturing in the dark academia genre.

all the greek mythology references were like a cherry on top for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Suicide, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt

Minor: Animal death, Blood