A review by sarahbeaman
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • 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

4.75

this was lent to me by a friend as its her favourite book of all time (no pressure!) and despite a very slow start, it did not disappoint. tense and full of stressful twists, combined with a group of thoroughly unlikeable characters whose approval i wanted almost as badly as the main character richard did! lots of very sophisticated classical references which i’m sure would’ve enriched my experience, but the text is just as intriguing and readable without needing to research the deep meaning of each one. so different from my usual style but thoroughly enjoyable!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings