Review: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Title: The Secret History
Author: Donna Tartt
Genre: Literary fiction
Summary: When Richard Papen is accepted at a small Vermont
college, he gladly leaves his boring California identity
behind. After he makes up an appropriate past, Richard is
allowed to join an elite group of students who take all of
their classes from one professor. Richard learns that the
clique is hiding some odd secrets--and one deadly one. The
members trust Richard, but they're not so sure of one of
their own.
My Thoughts: As I mentioned before, I never would have picked up this book if not for shantih. And even a few days after I'm done with it, I still don't entirely know what I think of it.
What I liked: Tartt evokes a sense of place and character effortlessly. I really got a sense for the college Richard attends, which is almost a character in and of itself. (I never understood what that expression meant, incidentally, until I read this book.) Also, the relationships between the characters, who are all real, flawed individuals, were intricate, complex and not at all easy to decipher. This is a good thing, because I like things like that.
The Bad: Well, to be truthful, it was a tedious, depressing story. Someone described it to me as squallid, and I have to agree. I tend to like a bit more escapism in my fiction, which is why I don't read more real literature. It was also hard to find a wqhole lot that was redeeming about the characters. But, well, that was the point.
Final thoughts: I don't think I'm likely to reread it again, but I am glad I did, and would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a realistic story about human nature nd what it's made of.
Grade: A-
Author: Donna Tartt
Genre: Literary fiction
Summary: When Richard Papen is accepted at a small Vermont
college, he gladly leaves his boring California identity
behind. After he makes up an appropriate past, Richard is
allowed to join an elite group of students who take all of
their classes from one professor. Richard learns that the
clique is hiding some odd secrets--and one deadly one. The
members trust Richard, but they're not so sure of one of
their own.
My Thoughts: As I mentioned before, I never would have picked up this book if not for shantih. And even a few days after I'm done with it, I still don't entirely know what I think of it.
What I liked: Tartt evokes a sense of place and character effortlessly. I really got a sense for the college Richard attends, which is almost a character in and of itself. (I never understood what that expression meant, incidentally, until I read this book.) Also, the relationships between the characters, who are all real, flawed individuals, were intricate, complex and not at all easy to decipher. This is a good thing, because I like things like that.
The Bad: Well, to be truthful, it was a tedious, depressing story. Someone described it to me as squallid, and I have to agree. I tend to like a bit more escapism in my fiction, which is why I don't read more real literature. It was also hard to find a wqhole lot that was redeeming about the characters. But, well, that was the point.
Final thoughts: I don't think I'm likely to reread it again, but I am glad I did, and would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a realistic story about human nature nd what it's made of.
Grade: A-