A review by booksandbraids
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am honestly shocked by how much I enjoyed this book. The beginning was a bit rough since I came in expecting to hate it and the overly pretentious vibe that I hated in The Goldfinch was also very strong at the start of this one so that didn’t help. But once we got to the first big event where things started to get more interesting I was hooked. I wound up loving all of the characters and their pretentious ways. I think the dark academia vibes are what made it work, whereas in The Goldfinch it just felt unnecessary and ridiculous to me. I can definitely see how this has become a classic of the dark academia genre. 

I am really looking forward to discussing it at book club. I wish I hadn’t finished it so early- our meeting is not for another 20 days. I feel like it will make for a good discussion. 

My commentary…
  • let me start by saying that I’ve already read The Goldfinch and I hated it. It was too long and too pretentious for what it was. So I’m going into this one very apprehensively. I’m trying NOT to go into it expecting to hate it, but I can’t help it. I’m hoping it proves me wrong. The reason I am reading it now is for a book club. But I did sort of want to read it anyways. I’ve heard it’s good. I know I shouldn’t judge an entire author’s collection off of a single book. But really it’s a good thing this was a book club selection because I’m not sure I would have actually made the plunge without that push. 
  • 01:56:50 ehhhh not a fan so far. I cannot stand his constant lying. To get money he didn’t really need by lying about a car that needs repairs and now all this lying about his situation and where he comes from. The one thing in life that I cannot stand is liars. Regardless of why they are lying. 
    02:10:25 now I can’t even breathe because they don’t have money to pay
    64% I swapped to the Libby version of the audiobook at some point which has percentages. I should have made a comment earlier but I’ve been absolutely loving this book since the first murder when things started to get interesting. 
    65% “With your chick peas and your filthy pocket breads” 😂
    81% what is going on with Charles and Camilla? Why did they just kiss? Are they really siblings? I once knew a pair of siblings when I was on vacation at a resort in Mexico who hooked up one night at the night club. They were just off in a corner making out. I still wonder what the deal was with that. Were they really siblings? Were they playing a game and trying to freak us all out?
    82% apparently the friend group thinks that Charles and Camilla occasionally sleep together. I want to Google to see what people think but I know that would be a mistake without finishing the book first. 
    And now Francis has admitted to sleeping with Charles as well?? 3 or 4 times??
    85% were people truly once like this? Or are they still, and I just wasn’t part of that crowd? The amount of drinking and drugs that these people so casually do. And the fact that they just lend people their cars Willy nilly. It is so strange to me. Says the person who went to a single party in college and lasted maybe 30 minutes before deciding that it was the last place I wanted to be.
  • 100% I loved it. I am absolutely shocked by how much I loved it.