A review by dasha_musa
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I didn't love this like I hoped I would, but I liked it and found it enjoyable for the most part (stuck between 4.0 and 4.25 stars).

I think Tartt does a great job crafting some disgusting and repulsive -- yet intriguing -- characters to which you are, nonetheless, drawn. I jumped around between characters in a game of "who I like most" only to find a reason to dislike them just 5 pages later. I also really enjoyed having Richard's POV as the source of narration. He was this lost outsider turned confidante that made the story more compelling.

The prose is beautiful and the imagery really lends itself to feeling like you saw it first-hand, but at times it does feel a bit long. The pretentiousness does live up to the hype - if you're into that. The experiences and emotions of this book are almost grotesque, disillusioned, fascinating. But, the story still didn't pack the profound punch that I was expecting, though I suspect my opinions may reconfigure slightly as I continue to ruminate. 
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