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mckfisher17's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
mbroughjones's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
hollietoftx's review
5.0
Genuinely a masterpiece. A book that will stay with me literally forever.
'Does such a thing as 'the fatal flaw,' that showy dark crack running down the middle of a life, exist outside literature? I used to think it didn't. Now I think it does. And I think that mine is this: a morbid longing for the picturesque at all costs.'
'I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive.'
'Does such a thing as 'the fatal flaw,' that showy dark crack running down the middle of a life, exist outside literature? I used to think it didn't. Now I think it does. And I think that mine is this: a morbid longing for the picturesque at all costs.'
'I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive.'
rosiemay18's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75/4
About a group of students from high class backgrounds juxtaposed by the main character who is not from the same class but joins there group via Greek studies. Really a character study, about their privilege and what they do and think they can do because of where they are in society. How they handle the death of a friend they caused. Found it interesting and more invested in the characters than I thought I’d be, however I havnet really thought to much about it and don’t think I took to much away from it
About a group of students from high class backgrounds juxtaposed by the main character who is not from the same class but joins there group via Greek studies. Really a character study, about their privilege and what they do and think they can do because of where they are in society. How they handle the death of a friend they caused. Found it interesting and more invested in the characters than I thought I’d be, however I havnet really thought to much about it and don’t think I took to much away from it
tdem122's review against another edition
5.0
[1st read from 6/10/2021 to 22/10/2021] — 5⭐️
— i’m not gonna lie, i’ve been avoiding this book like the plague since buying it over a year ago, partly due to it’s length but mostly because of its popularity and the high expectations that often come with it, as well as the many, many, mixed reviews that call this a waste of their time and the most boring and overhyped novel they’ve read in their entire lives. just strangers being overly aggressive on a reading app, the usual.
for me personally, it’s definitely been an interesting journey (partly because i packed my entire house for an across the sea move to asia but because it was just so damn well written, gripping and incredibly hard to put down as well.)
though originally drawn in by the plot and the dark academia vibes i was promised by everyone who’s ever read this, going into this, it was the character dynamics i ended up staying for. i’m most likely very biased on this, since i often tend to have a personal preference for character driven stories, especially when every single one is pretentious and unlikeable — and well, i got a taste of my own medicine, because this was everything this book dwelled on.
from the well loved private university atmosphere, the haunting plot, to the pretentiousness and god complexes of every single character, there was nothing i did not adore in this, it was exactly right up my alley.
but what i loved the most was the very uncommon mixture the author made of an unreliable narrator and at some points during the story, full on satire. it was absolutely funny, fantastic (as well as pitiful) to read about these characters who truly did not care at all about what was going on in the real world and who wholeheartedly believed their actions don’t have any consequences whatsoever.
donna tartt’s writing is masterful in this, and i am in awe as in how she manages to quietly thread little aspects of these characters that can at first be seen as mere little flaws and quirks, but that, when tied together within the big picture — end up making the entire difference between you absolutely dreading them and feeling at least an ounce of sympathy for these horrible people who’ve done horrifying things, especially henry. he is (and this is not an overstatement at all) a terrible, manipulative person to say the least, and i found fascinating the extent to which he nearly transcends mortality, virtually reaching a god-like status in people’s memories and dreams well after he is gone, tying very satisfyingly into the classical relationship shared by deities and mortals in greek mythology, this being the reason why i consider the three final pages to be incredibly brilliant as well.
right now my mind feel just as dazed as it is in awe as to how someone is so talented to write something as beautiful, haunting and gripping as this and i totally see why it’s as beloved and considered a proper modern classic. five stars are absolutely insufficient for this literary masterpiece, and i think i have found one of my new favorite books ever.
— i’m not gonna lie, i’ve been avoiding this book like the plague since buying it over a year ago, partly due to it’s length but mostly because of its popularity and the high expectations that often come with it, as well as the many, many, mixed reviews that call this a waste of their time and the most boring and overhyped novel they’ve read in their entire lives. just strangers being overly aggressive on a reading app, the usual.
for me personally, it’s definitely been an interesting journey (partly because i packed my entire house for an across the sea move to asia but because it was just so damn well written, gripping and incredibly hard to put down as well.)
though originally drawn in by the plot and the dark academia vibes i was promised by everyone who’s ever read this, going into this, it was the character dynamics i ended up staying for. i’m most likely very biased on this, since i often tend to have a personal preference for character driven stories, especially when every single one is pretentious and unlikeable — and well, i got a taste of my own medicine, because this was everything this book dwelled on.
from the well loved private university atmosphere, the haunting plot, to the pretentiousness and god complexes of every single character, there was nothing i did not adore in this, it was exactly right up my alley.
but what i loved the most was the very uncommon mixture the author made of an unreliable narrator and at some points during the story, full on satire. it was absolutely funny, fantastic (as well as pitiful) to read about these characters who truly did not care at all about what was going on in the real world and who wholeheartedly believed their actions don’t have any consequences whatsoever.
donna tartt’s writing is masterful in this, and i am in awe as in how she manages to quietly thread little aspects of these characters that can at first be seen as mere little flaws and quirks, but that, when tied together within the big picture — end up making the entire difference between you absolutely dreading them and feeling at least an ounce of sympathy for these horrible people who’ve done horrifying things, especially henry. he is (and this is not an overstatement at all) a terrible, manipulative person to say the least, and i found fascinating the extent to which he nearly transcends mortality, virtually reaching a god-like status in people’s memories and dreams well after he is gone, tying very satisfyingly into the classical relationship shared by deities and mortals in greek mythology, this being the reason why i consider the three final pages to be incredibly brilliant as well.
right now my mind feel just as dazed as it is in awe as to how someone is so talented to write something as beautiful, haunting and gripping as this and i totally see why it’s as beloved and considered a proper modern classic. five stars are absolutely insufficient for this literary masterpiece, and i think i have found one of my new favorite books ever.
hrae_stew's review
dark
mysterious
tense
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
llyn__see's review
I only wanted to know what happened leading until Bunny’s death. Then the writer lost me at the second part of the novel. And I really like Henry for some reason. Yippe yay
izzie_chamomilletea's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Consummatum est! One of my favorite books that I’ve read so far, the atmosphere transcends the pages and captivates you.
booktalktaylor's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
ok so this is kind of insane - I sat there for about 20 whole hours of this 22 hour audiobook, honestly frustrated and losing interest in the plot. I thought about key phrases I would include in my three star review to express my disappointment.
TELL ME how everything changed at the end, so drastically so that I literally am sitting here, staring out into the distance, possibly pondering that ending for the rest of my life. HUH?
So, I read If We Were Villians a few years ago, obviously not understanding the complexity of the novel it was imitating. And I loved that book! I really thought it was spectacular. And to be completely frank, I found myself bored with this plot because it was nearly identical to a book i’d read fairly recently.
I WAS WRONG, OK. I am unashamed to admit it! WOW, the end of this story threw me for a loop. Have you seen the movie saltburn? this book felt like that. Those two definitely belong to the same genre. both of them certainly left me with my jaw on the floor at the end.
this is a really tough read because you can’t grasp the scope of what you’re reading until after you’re finished. I think if you have the grit and are open minded enough to sit through hours upon end of at times, mundane things that you aren’t sure why they’re even included in the story. DO IT. because my mind is blown!
TELL ME how everything changed at the end, so drastically so that I literally am sitting here, staring out into the distance, possibly pondering that ending for the rest of my life. HUH?
So, I read If We Were Villians a few years ago, obviously not understanding the complexity of the novel it was imitating. And I loved that book! I really thought it was spectacular. And to be completely frank, I found myself bored with this plot because it was nearly identical to a book i’d read fairly recently.
I WAS WRONG, OK. I am unashamed to admit it! WOW, the end of this story threw me for a loop. Have you seen the movie saltburn? this book felt like that. Those two definitely belong to the same genre. both of them certainly left me with my jaw on the floor at the end.
this is a really tough read because you can’t grasp the scope of what you’re reading until after you’re finished. I think if you have the grit and are open minded enough to sit through hours upon end of at times, mundane things that you aren’t sure why they’re even included in the story. DO IT. because my mind is blown!