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A review by cedarwaxwing
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
challenging
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
When I first began this book I was pretty sure I would not finish it. The beginning was slow going and I know very little about ancient Greece or the classics. I read some of the negative reviews here on Goodreads and agreed with them.
I asked my daughter, who is studying ancient Greek and works in a bookstore, if she'd heard of this book and she said she loved it and that I should stick with it. I'm glad I took her advice, although it was a very long read and took me about two weeks to finish.
This is the first book I have read by Donna Tartt -- it was a book group read before I joined our book group and I'm trying to read all the book group books I've not read. The group also read another Tartt book that I was uncomfortable reading at the time because of the subject matter (The Little Friend). I'll likely read that at some point.
I asked my daughter, who is studying ancient Greek and works in a bookstore, if she'd heard of this book and she said she loved it and that I should stick with it. I'm glad I took her advice, although it was a very long read and took me about two weeks to finish.
This is the first book I have read by Donna Tartt -- it was a book group read before I joined our book group and I'm trying to read all the book group books I've not read. The group also read another Tartt book that I was uncomfortable reading at the time because of the subject matter (The Little Friend). I'll likely read that at some point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence and Incest
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Physical abuse