megsminor's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
archerkel's review
3.0
Shakespeare, murder (?), and actors.
The audiobook was fantastically narrated.
The audiobook was fantastically narrated.
monstercalls's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
imogen_wynn's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
definitely in my top 5 i love this book so much!
jedbird's review against another edition
4.0
3.75*
I'm not a theater person, never took a drama class, and my own experience of Shakespeare is that he is a pervasive cultural influence at least as much as he is a dramatist/writer. I'm not a person who can quote lines of Shakespeare for any occasion or reason.
The seven student actors in this story are definitely people who can quote Shakespeare, and they do, constantly. They're kind of insufferable. They are artists--drinking and drugging and sexing like creative people are said to do. One of them is murdered, and one or more of the others did it.
You know at the beginning of the book that Oliver, the narrator, has just done 10 years for the murder, but you also know he didn't do it. So who's he covering for?
From the beginning, the relationship between Oliver and James, his roommate, is coded pretty queer and...they're artistic kids living in a castle in the woods and doing substances and quoting Shakespeare. Would anyone be surprised or care if they're queer? No. In fact, one of the other actors is a rather voracious and irresponsible bisexual. But for some reason, Oliver and James' relationship is a secret. You're not given enough information about either of them to know if there are deeper reasons than just the author wanting that tragic drama in her story.
The parts about putting on a stage production were very interesting to me. The extensive quotes from various Shakespearean plays were in places quite beautiful, though I was quite annoyed by the idea of people having a fight in all Shakespeare quotes instead of just talking to each other.
It is easy to figure out who did the murder, but the how and why are less obvious. It's not a particularly clever mystery, but all the stagecraft and verse make for an interesting setting. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either.
I'm not a theater person, never took a drama class, and my own experience of Shakespeare is that he is a pervasive cultural influence at least as much as he is a dramatist/writer. I'm not a person who can quote lines of Shakespeare for any occasion or reason.
The seven student actors in this story are definitely people who can quote Shakespeare, and they do, constantly. They're kind of insufferable. They are artists--drinking and drugging and sexing like creative people are said to do. One of them is murdered, and one or more of the others did it.
You know at the beginning of the book that Oliver, the narrator, has just done 10 years for the murder, but you also know he didn't do it. So who's he covering for?
From the beginning, the relationship between Oliver and James, his roommate, is coded pretty queer and...they're artistic kids living in a castle in the woods and doing substances and quoting Shakespeare. Would anyone be surprised or care if they're queer? No. In fact, one of the other actors is a rather voracious and irresponsible bisexual. But for some reason, Oliver and James' relationship is a secret. You're not given enough information about either of them to know if there are deeper reasons than just the author wanting that tragic drama in her story.
The parts about putting on a stage production were very interesting to me. The extensive quotes from various Shakespearean plays were in places quite beautiful, though I was quite annoyed by the idea of people having a fight in all Shakespeare quotes instead of just talking to each other.
It is easy to figure out who did the murder, but the how and why are less obvious. It's not a particularly clever mystery, but all the stagecraft and verse make for an interesting setting. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either.
leastiel's review against another edition
4.0
i cant in good faith give this the 5/5 i gave the secret history (the plot felt more rushed, the characters were given less depth, and the twist was fairly predictable), but i still really enjoyed it
meganmaymears's review against another edition
5.0
this book is genuinely one of my favourite things I think I have ever had the privilege to read, the whole thing is so meticulously thought out and every plot twist had me hooked. the pure nature of the book is like poetry and i fear if I read it again the experience won’t be the same because I can never feel the same feeling of not knowing what happens next. the ending destroyed my well-being
lucycollis's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
caileymunroe's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
literary_han's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Amazing! I loved this book!! A very in depth look at each character and what makes us human.
Missing half a star because I feel like it was missing just a little spark. But, safe to say, I loved this novel.
Amazing! I loved this book!! A very in depth look at each character and what makes us human.
Missing half a star because I feel like it was missing just a little spark. But, safe to say, I loved this novel.