Book Review: The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Secret HistoryFiction (Released September, 1992)
Bottom Line: Read it.
Link to this book on Amazon

Plot Summary:
A group of students at a small New England college are bound together with a morally questionable professor by a shared tragedy and end up in a second appalling situation.

My Thoughts:
In the two decades since The Secret History was published, more and more people have referred to it as a “contemporary classic”. And, with the recent publication of Tartt’s new novel, The Goldfinch, I decided to post my old review of her debut novel.

The Secret History is a dark and, some (including me) would say, “messed up” story. However, it was fascinating and, like a horrific car crash, I couldn’t pull myself away. And, I am not usually a lover of dark or overly “weird” books. Somehow, her storytelling and writing style overcame the darkness for me.

The Secret History is about the dark side of human nature, peer pressure, trust (of peers and adults), privilege, and campus life (although vastly different from my college campus!). And, not to mention a suspenseful mystery.

My one complaint is Tartt overkills the “way over most people’s heads” discussions of Greek classics (and other similarly “intellectual” topics) that the central group of eccentric students constantly falls into. I understand it was part of the characters; however, it was painful to read, even for someone who took Latin all the way through college (although, I admit I don’t remember much)!

The Secret History is on my Book Club Recommendations List.

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