A review by meganeorcx
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

challenging dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

If anyone ever tells me that this is their favourite book, I will politely smile and back away. See, I get its appeal in light of it being satire and critiquing classicism but that could have easily been done in around 200 pages. The beginning was tedious and Richard is a really boring narrator. I'm okay with unlikeable characters but not when the novel is this  long and you have to spend too many pages watching them drink themselves to near-death. The writing was gorgeous, pretentious, maybe, but nice enough, but definitely doesn't save how overall problematic the book is. Honestly, this book could have had the exact same effect without those weird racist passages and having its one gay character take advantage of others when they're drunk. I don't care if it's supposed to be a "dark" story, it feels like a cover up for the author's worldview and I was not vibing with it. The middle part was exciting and so were some parts near the end, but with Richard's perspective, even that couldn't save how I felt about this book. And to think this entire book wouldn't exist if these dumb characters would recognise their own privilege and just gone to the police instead... YAWN! 
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