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mellowreading 's review for:
The Secret History
by Donna Tartt
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book became a 5 star for me only at its very end, around the last 50-70 pages but was still very good. I liked a lot of the tropes used and overall vibes. I worried it wouldn’t be suspenseful with the murder and perpetrators being revealed in the prologue, but there were many scenes after the murder took place that had my heart racing. Very fun and emotionally challenging read. I think Francis was the only character I didn’t have a love/hate relationship with.
The scene in Julians office had my blood pumping, I was saying “oh god, oh god” out loud. That scene alone alongisde the drastic exposition of what kinds of people the characters truly are elevated the book from a 4.75 to a 5 for me. Donna does such a good job of creating tension and introducing information in such a way that it jars you.
The scene in Julians office had my blood pumping, I was saying “oh god, oh god” out loud. That scene alone alongisde the drastic exposition of what kinds of people the characters truly are elevated the book from a 4.75 to a 5 for me. Donna does such a good job of creating tension and introducing information in such a way that it jars you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Eating disorder, Rape