Scan barcode
A review by nicolem_young
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
4.0
Book/Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book Cover: ⭐
TRIGGER(S): MURDER, ALCOHOLISM, SUICIDE, DRUG ABUSE, PHYSICAL ABUSE, DEATH OF A CHILD/SIBLING
POV: Singular, First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Safe or Dark: Dark (see trigger warnings)
PSA: I would like to mention that readers should make sure they are in a good place mentally before diving into this. I had been dealing with a depressive episode before I started this book, and perhaps I should have been more cautious about that because, at times, this story took me to a dark place. It might not affect all people in the same way, but I wanted to make you all aware of what happened to me.
Second PSA: BUNNY BEING MURDERED IS NOT A SPOILER SINCE IT IS GIVEN AWAY IN THE PROLOGUE. THE FUN OF THIS STORY IS NOT THE MURDER ITSELF BUT WHAT LED UP TO IT AND ITS SUBSEQUENT AFTERMATH!
This is the first dark academia book I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be the last.
Before I start, I have to say that the first half of this book (book I) is much better than the second half (book II).
The Secret History by Donna Tartt is a modern classic in its own right, and I can certainly see why. This book was beautifully written, engaging, and, at times, emotional. My brain is still such a mess after reading this, and I love it. However, because of that, in the future, my thoughts on this book may change. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
While at times this book could seem rather dense, it's written so well. I loved it. It’s a tale about people putting themselves first in the direst of situations. The story really makes you wonder what people are capable of when they’ve been pushed to their limit and their backs are against the wall. This idea is not a new one, but Tartt managed to execute it so wonderfully that it really sets itself apart from the rest. It stands alone from all the other books of its kind. The ending was just WOW. I did not see that coming at all. Some people did, but maybe I’m an idiot because I didn’t.
Haven’t we all done something at one time that seemed like the best or only solution to a problem, only to turn around and realize it might be one of the biggest mistakes we’ve ever made? The rise and imminent downfall of each character were fascinating. They each got swallowed up by the aftermath of a horrific and fateful decision they made. Their self-destruction slowly engulfed them. It chewed them up and spit them out again. I loved watching it unfold.
My biggest complaint about this book are the chapters. Why were almost all of them 30+ pages long? They had a lot of breaks in them, which made for great stopping points. So, why not just end the chapters there? Why stretch them out and make them so damn long? It was unnecessary.
All the characters in this book were written to be intentionally unlikeable, and they were. But in a weird way, I was still able to find things I liked about them. I suppose I liked them since I knew they were unlikeable on purpose. I don’t know if any of that made sense. Even though a few of them were barely fleshed out, they were still enjoyable enough.
As someone who should probably be in an insane asylum, I think it is safe for me to say that all of these characters should probably be in one too.
Richard Papen (the unreliable narrator): Richard was my second favorite character, next to Henry. He was a lost soul, and at times I found myself feeling rather sorry for him. The only thing I didn’t enjoy about him were the lies he told about himself and his background. Richard also didn’t speak up enough. He hardly said what was on his mind. Even when his friends did something that irritated or upset him, he didn’t stand up for himself. I suppose his desperation to fit in is what led him to do it. In a way, I can understand where Richard was coming from. In high school, college, and even sometimes as adults, we all just want to feel like we belong. He was very loyal to his group of friends, and he would do just about anything for them. I don’t feel like the same was given to him in return. Also, he kept pining after a girl who could never return his feelings. She couldn’t love him the same way he loved her. Wake up, Richard! Find someone better. For the love of the gods, find someone better!
Henry Winter: I actually thought his character was so fun in a twisted way. At times, he could be rather intense and dramatic, but it was all part of who he was. I enjoyed his broodiness. He was just a touch mysterious, without even trying. He bails Bunny out of awkward financial situations more often than not. Even if it was an inconvenience (which most of the time it was) to him, He didn’t have to do that, despite the two of them being besties. I think Henry had a good heart (well, as good of a heart as a psycho can have) that he tried to hide most of the time. But if you pushed him far enough, he would eventually snap. He was the unspoken leader of the group. Henry was the only one of them who seemed to stay calm and keep a clear head MOST of the time. Despite his sociopathic tendencies, something about him was just so damn attractive.
Charles Macaulay: I loved Charles. He was so sweet, and he just seemed like a good guy all around. Something about him was so endearing. He was the better one of the twins. Much easier to care about than his sister. Charles went insanely off the rails after Bunny’s murder, but I believe that given the circumstances, it was understandable. Poor Charles was put through A LOT. He suffered A LOT. He dealt with A LOT. Despite this, he did somefucked-up things that I don’t agree with. You should never put your hands on another person in anger. Not cool. Not cool at all. Well, Henry also did super fucked up things, and I just adored him. Now I sound like a hypocrite, don’t I?
Camilla Macaulay: I don’t know why, but I just couldn’t get on board with her character. She was the typical “beautiful blonde." (I have nothing against blondes at all.) Camilla is what the young people would call a “pick me girl." She was multiple male characters love interest. Because why wouldn’t she be? It was hard for me to even care about her character. She was as bland as unseasoned chicken. For me, Camilla was just sort of... there. She could have been absent for most of the story, and I wouldn’t even have noticed. I don’t know why all her friends thought she was the bee knees, because frankly, she wasn’t. She SUCKED.
Edmund “Bunny” Corcoran: I didn’t care for him at all. Although he was a fun and outgoing guy, he was a bigot. Plain and simple. He was all around obnoxious and tried to be something he wasn’t. He couldn’t handle any constructive criticism that was given towards him or any of his work (papers he wrote, drawings, etc.). Bunny must have thought his friends were morons because he told outlandish lies and expected them to believe him. Spoiler alert: They usually knew he wasn’t telling the truth. He gave me the ick. What a jerk. Bunny would pick on everyone in the most personal of ways. He would constantly attack his friends and try to embarrass them in front of one another. His family was just awful, so I’m sure that played a big part in molding him into the person he was at the time of his murder. Did I feel bad for him when he was ultimately killed? Not one bit. At the end of the day, Bunny was his own worst enemy.
Francis Abernathy: I liked Francis. He was quirky and fun. His wit was interesting as well. He was liked by all his friends, and he was able to have a good laugh at himself. Most of the time, he was the one who tried to lighten the mood when a dark cloud had fallen over the group. Francis’s personality was a complex one. He tried to back up Henry as best he could. Even at times when he shouldn’t. It was adorable how he could never leave a phone unanswered. If Francis was around and a phone rang, you better believe he was answering it. I feel bad that, as he got older, he wasn't allowed to be who he truly was. It was heartbreaking.
Professor Julian Morrow: Despite him being a driving force in the plot, we don’t see much of him. I couldn’t really get enough of an idea of his character to form a true opinion. I guess we’re supposed to assume that Julian is a pompous ass. Which he was. In one scene, it’s as if we, the readers, are sitting in one of his classes, and let me tell you, he isn’t as engaging of a professor as all his students made him out to be. Julian made his students drop most of their classes so they could take a bunch of his. Is that even allowed at a legitimate university? It was just so weird and farfetched to me.
Side Characters: There were a few side characters I really enjoyed. Despite not appearing in the story all that often, my favorite is party girl Judy Poovey (how amazing is that name?). She was so fun. Even if she was drunk or high 90% of the time, she was always kind to Richard, despite his odd and sometimes unfriendly behavior towards her. My girl just wanted to live her best life.
P.S. The twins being named Camilla and Charles gave me a good laugh. I enjoyed that immensely.
The font in this book was rather small and eventually began to make my eyes hurt. Towards the end, I switched to the audiobook version. Which wasn’t bad. However, I could have done without Donna Tartt trying her hand at voice acting.
TLDR: I HAD LIKES AND DISLIKES! IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT READING IT, I THINK YOU MIGHT ENJOY IT!
Book Cover: ⭐
TRIGGER(S): MURDER, ALCOHOLISM, SUICIDE, DRUG ABUSE, PHYSICAL ABUSE, DEATH OF A CHILD/SIBLING
POV: Singular, First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Safe or Dark: Dark (see trigger warnings)
PSA: I would like to mention that readers should make sure they are in a good place mentally before diving into this. I had been dealing with a depressive episode before I started this book, and perhaps I should have been more cautious about that because, at times, this story took me to a dark place. It might not affect all people in the same way, but I wanted to make you all aware of what happened to me.
Second PSA: BUNNY BEING MURDERED IS NOT A SPOILER SINCE IT IS GIVEN AWAY IN THE PROLOGUE. THE FUN OF THIS STORY IS NOT THE MURDER ITSELF BUT WHAT LED UP TO IT AND ITS SUBSEQUENT AFTERMATH!
“Secrets are more powerful when people know you've got them.”
This is the first dark academia book I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be the last.
Before I start, I have to say that the first half of this book (book I) is much better than the second half (book II).
The Secret History by Donna Tartt is a modern classic in its own right, and I can certainly see why. This book was beautifully written, engaging, and, at times, emotional. My brain is still such a mess after reading this, and I love it. However, because of that, in the future, my thoughts on this book may change. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
While at times this book could seem rather dense, it's written so well. I loved it. It’s a tale about people putting themselves first in the direst of situations. The story really makes you wonder what people are capable of when they’ve been pushed to their limit and their backs are against the wall. This idea is not a new one, but Tartt managed to execute it so wonderfully that it really sets itself apart from the rest. It stands alone from all the other books of its kind. The ending was just WOW. I did not see that coming at all. Some people did, but maybe I’m an idiot because I didn’t.
Haven’t we all done something at one time that seemed like the best or only solution to a problem, only to turn around and realize it might be one of the biggest mistakes we’ve ever made? The rise and imminent downfall of each character were fascinating. They each got swallowed up by the aftermath of a horrific and fateful decision they made. Their self-destruction slowly engulfed them. It chewed them up and spit them out again. I loved watching it unfold.
My biggest complaint about this book are the chapters. Why were almost all of them 30+ pages long? They had a lot of breaks in them, which made for great stopping points. So, why not just end the chapters there? Why stretch them out and make them so damn long? It was unnecessary.
All the characters in this book were written to be intentionally unlikeable, and they were. But in a weird way, I was still able to find things I liked about them. I suppose I liked them since I knew they were unlikeable on purpose. I don’t know if any of that made sense. Even though a few of them were barely fleshed out, they were still enjoyable enough.
As someone who should probably be in an insane asylum, I think it is safe for me to say that all of these characters should probably be in one too.
Richard Papen (the unreliable narrator): Richard was my second favorite character, next to Henry. He was a lost soul, and at times I found myself feeling rather sorry for him. The only thing I didn’t enjoy about him were the lies he told about himself and his background. Richard also didn’t speak up enough. He hardly said what was on his mind. Even when his friends did something that irritated or upset him, he didn’t stand up for himself. I suppose his desperation to fit in is what led him to do it. In a way, I can understand where Richard was coming from. In high school, college, and even sometimes as adults, we all just want to feel like we belong. He was very loyal to his group of friends, and he would do just about anything for them. I don’t feel like the same was given to him in return. Also, he kept pining after a girl who could never return his feelings. She couldn’t love him the same way he loved her. Wake up, Richard! Find someone better. For the love of the gods, find someone better!
Henry Winter: I actually thought his character was so fun in a twisted way. At times, he could be rather intense and dramatic, but it was all part of who he was. I enjoyed his broodiness. He was just a touch mysterious, without even trying. He bails Bunny out of awkward financial situations more often than not. Even if it was an inconvenience (which most of the time it was) to him, He didn’t have to do that, despite the two of them being besties. I think Henry had a good heart (well, as good of a heart as a psycho can have) that he tried to hide most of the time. But if you pushed him far enough, he would eventually snap. He was the unspoken leader of the group. Henry was the only one of them who seemed to stay calm and keep a clear head MOST of the time. Despite his sociopathic tendencies, something about him was just so damn attractive.
“Forgive me, for all the things I did but mostly for the ones that I did not.”
Charles Macaulay: I loved Charles. He was so sweet, and he just seemed like a good guy all around. Something about him was so endearing. He was the better one of the twins. Much easier to care about than his sister. Charles went insanely off the rails after Bunny’s murder, but I believe that given the circumstances, it was understandable. Poor Charles was put through A LOT. He suffered A LOT. He dealt with A LOT. Despite this, he did some
Camilla Macaulay: I don’t know why, but I just couldn’t get on board with her character. She was the typical “beautiful blonde." (I have nothing against blondes at all.) Camilla is what the young people would call a “pick me girl." She was multiple male characters love interest. Because why wouldn’t she be? It was hard for me to even care about her character. She was as bland as unseasoned chicken. For me, Camilla was just sort of... there. She could have been absent for most of the story, and I wouldn’t even have noticed. I don’t know why all her friends thought she was the bee knees, because frankly, she wasn’t.
Spoiler
What is this hold she had on Richard and Henry, for that matter?Edmund “Bunny” Corcoran: I didn’t care for him at all. Although he was a fun and outgoing guy, he was a bigot. Plain and simple. He was all around obnoxious and tried to be something he wasn’t. He couldn’t handle any constructive criticism that was given towards him or any of his work (papers he wrote, drawings, etc.). Bunny must have thought his friends were morons because he told outlandish lies and expected them to believe him. Spoiler alert: They usually knew he wasn’t telling the truth. He gave me the ick. What a jerk. Bunny would pick on everyone in the most personal of ways. He would constantly attack his friends and try to embarrass them in front of one another. His family was just awful, so I’m sure that played a big part in molding him into the person he was at the time of his murder. Did I feel bad for him when he was ultimately killed? Not one bit. At the end of the day, Bunny was his own worst enemy.
“It is is better to know one book intimately than a hundred superficially.”
Francis Abernathy: I liked Francis. He was quirky and fun. His wit was interesting as well. He was liked by all his friends, and he was able to have a good laugh at himself. Most of the time, he was the one who tried to lighten the mood when a dark cloud had fallen over the group. Francis’s personality was a complex one. He tried to back up Henry as best he could. Even at times when he shouldn’t. It was adorable how he could never leave a phone unanswered. If Francis was around and a phone rang, you better believe he was answering it. I feel bad that, as he got older, he wasn't allowed to be who he truly was. It was heartbreaking.
Professor Julian Morrow: Despite him being a driving force in the plot, we don’t see much of him. I couldn’t really get enough of an idea of his character to form a true opinion. I guess we’re supposed to assume that Julian is a pompous ass. Which he was. In one scene, it’s as if we, the readers, are sitting in one of his classes, and let me tell you, he isn’t as engaging of a professor as all his students made him out to be. Julian made his students drop most of their classes so they could take a bunch of his. Is that even allowed at a legitimate university? It was just so weird and farfetched to me.
Spoiler
He was such a great and caring professor, yet at the end of the day, he bailed on all his students? He left them all without so much as a peep. Real caring of you, Jules.“Beauty is terror. Whatever we call beautiful, we quiver before it.””
Side Characters: There were a few side characters I really enjoyed. Despite not appearing in the story all that often, my favorite is party girl Judy Poovey (how amazing is that name?). She was so fun. Even if she was drunk or high 90% of the time, she was always kind to Richard, despite his odd and sometimes unfriendly behavior towards her. My girl just wanted to live her best life.
P.S. The twins being named Camilla and Charles gave me a good laugh. I enjoyed that immensely.
Spoiler
They also creeped me out and made me want to puke. Chances are, they will make you want to do that too. They are just FOUL. My younger brother and I are close, but we aren’t THAT close. Sick.“Love doesn't conquer everything. And whoever thinks it does is a fool.”
The font in this book was rather small and eventually began to make my eyes hurt. Towards the end, I switched to the audiobook version. Which wasn’t bad. However, I could have done without Donna Tartt trying her hand at voice acting.
TLDR: I HAD LIKES AND DISLIKES! IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT READING IT, I THINK YOU MIGHT ENJOY IT!