A review by issyd23
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing 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

2.0

The OG dark academia book: basically Pretty Little Liars meets Rope but for nerds who like Dante 2🏺

Really disappointed this book didn’t live up to the hype: pacing was way too slow - like just get to the murder already. 

Tbh PLL did it better and the play/Hitchcock film Rope is a way better version of this story in terms of suspense, pacing and exploring themes of ethics, academia, eruditeness, class and queerness.

NB the audiobook I listed to narrated by the author herself gave the most annoying voice to Bunny: he sounded like that little bitch in the Polar Express and so I wasn’t even sad when he was killed. 

Also I found the main 6 characters so detestable I was indifferent to their
murders and suffering from trying to evade their crimes.
 





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