Book Review: The Secret History by Donna Tartt

At times a thrill, at others a slow journey.

You know, I wasn't sure what I thought about this book upon reading it. I wasn't sure what I thought of it after I finished reading it. Now, I still am not entirely sure how I still feel about it weeks after while writing this review.

I'm sure I enjoyed it, just not sure it was as much as I thought I was. I'm used to the slower pace of literary books or dark academia books. This book took me two months to get through. I don't think it was because it was more dense than the average literary book. Honestly, I think it was because everyone in the book was more interesting but our main character, Richard. He never knows what's going on. He's always the last to know. He's the odd man out. Richard is desperate for belonging. After seeing a small group of young, elite and exclusive students at his new school in New England, he drops everything to push his way into this exclusive classic literature program. He creates this facade to infiltrate and is lost within it - the group and the facade. By the end of the book, I don't feel like his character had ever developed or grew. I feel like we don't ever really get to know who he is as a person. Unless you consider that Richard is nothing without his college "friends" - as I really don't even think you can call them that. That Richard has and will always live a life made of lies after meeting these colleagues.

It is for Richard and Richard's character alone do I feel this book could not live up to my expectations. It was a wonderful book. It was incredibly written. The setting of New England lived up to everything I have imagined it to be and in hopes to one day experience. I even had myself thinking to go back and study the classics myself in a college setting.

Henry was my favorite character, not necessarily because of who he, himself but because he enchanted me as he enchanted his piers. I only ever got to know as much as he let us see. He was troubled but cared for his piers. He was enigmatic. I hated the professor and also felt his character fell short. Though, I suppose that is also what was meant to be.

This tale was just as much about Richard as it was Bunny. I mean, the first chapter was his death. The rest of the book is the mystery behind his downfall. I was patiently waiting for the moment someone cracked and did the dirty deed. When it happened, I was only shocked of the audacity. This book burned but it burned slowly. It was a slow burn with devastating consequences of the soul. I feel like I have to give this one another go in the future to really get that five star read experience. I still felt that it and my experienced deserved 4/5. Once it reached its peak, I was unable to put it down, frantic for the conclusion. Preferably will be reading this book in the fall season to elevate its effects.