the secret history by donna tartt

Submitted by Harvo223 t3_z26jmp in books

just finished this book and found myself a little underwhelmed. the characters were really really cool (i thought) and they were written well - loved all their different traits and etc. just thought that there were long gaps between the significant plot points, and just found myself getting tired of the tireless description of college life that was placed between these beautiful segments of dialogue and prose.

overall, just wished i’d spent my time re-reading crime and punishment.

what are this sub’s thoughts on the novel?

33

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

Tea_4_thee t1_ixezbsj wrote

It’s my favorite book, but I get it may not be for everybody.

I do think the descriptions of college life are an important part of the story, but I can see how some people may find it tireless the book is definitely very slow.

32

Big-Emu-5728 t1_ixftz3o wrote

My favorite book too! Just finished reading it this year, and read it last year. Can’t get enough of it and every read through I pick up on stuff previously missed. Glad you love it too :)

5

DarkFluids777 t1_ixeud38 wrote

Average; bascially I share your assessment of it, I was actually recommended it from an occult angle and in that aspect it wasn't actually overwhelming, either; I btw saw it heavily recommended all over various subs here; maybe my fav scene/s was the one in that the protagonist stayed over winter in utter poverty and nearly froze to death; IMO, 'even' Anne Rice's werewolf tales were so much better [I like her tales, though I understand any criticism of her, too].

13

Big-Emu-5728 t1_ixfuaqf wrote

I love the book and am obsessed but you did call out my favorite scene. Every time I read the winter passage living in the abandoned building I FEEL the cold

6

Harvo223 OP t1_ixeulmk wrote

i read it because i saw such gleaming reviews of it too. glad to see im not the only one who thinks it. honestly just felt like a modern retelling of crime and punishment but with less stuff about society and less philosophical rants

3

Secret_Walrus7390 t1_ixf5abl wrote

I was interested from start to finish; which is pretty good because The Goldfinch only interested me from start to middle and The Little Friend only interested me from the start of the Prologue to the end of the Prologue.

13

Big-Emu-5728 t1_ixfu6p4 wrote

Is the goldfinch worth sticking out? Love the secret history but have called it twice on the goldfinch. Can’t make it past the 30-60 page mark :(

4

purpleshampoolife t1_ixhj6th wrote

I liked The Secret History but I wouldn’t reread The Goldfinch if you paid me. I would also say the first part of the book is the most interesting so I’d you didn’t even like that part I would call it.

6

leggo_my_meggo90 t1_ixgfako wrote

I’m struggling so hard to finish The Little Friend so this makes me laugh

2

gsa-throwaway t1_ixfnfgc wrote

Warning, a hater's opinion below.

I feel bad because I know a lot of people loved the book, but I just found it so irritating. Every character is deeply unlikeable. The plot was strange. I could not decipher any kind of message the author was trying to deliver, other than maybe go to a public school.

11

thehouseofmirth11 t1_ixfvzu0 wrote

It’s been a while, but I remember being pretty underwhelmed by the book. I think in part because I was a classics student at the time and found the characters both unrealistic and insufferably pretentious lol.

9

secretghosts t1_ixevuob wrote

ive had discussions that only ugly people dont like this book, could you give your thoughts on this claim?

also read Hunger if you want norwegian raskolnikov

5

coloradogirlcallie t1_ixexl7d wrote

It gets tons of rave reviews on this sub (lately it feels like almost daily) but I found it underwhelming also.

5

zombielandia t1_ixflybu wrote

It’s funny, I actually just finished it for the first time yesterday! Personally, I wasn’t a huge fan—I know the book was intended to be very ironic, but even still, the way Tartt talked about class differences and the private college experience left a bad taste in my mouth. And I agree that the plot seemed to be paced in kind of an odd way.

3

tmrtdc3 t1_ixg1zqp wrote

> the way Tartt talked about class differences and the private college experience left a bad taste in my mouth

could you expand on this? I haven't read it but curious what she had to say

2

zombielandia t1_ixgepko wrote

Sure thing! The book is very much a satire, and the narrator goes through great lengths to try and romanticize wealth, status, and a view of academic life that, for me, felt very superficial—and as a satire, that’s totally valid, but I always had some difficulty in figuring out where the line was between Tartt’s brand of irony and her actual authorial beliefs. I always got the sense that she did, to some extent, actually hold a lot of the biases that she was calling out in the novel’s characters, and I felt this most strongly in the way she described the college and the lives of the classics students. The book is primarily centered around characters who are rich, bored, and motivated only by being (or seeming) smarter than their peers, and from my perspective, this element of their characters is portrayed as somewhat aspirational, as Tartt never fully commits to satirizing these traits. Incidentally, I described this book to my friend as American Psycho for English majors, in the sense that I worry that some (Tartt included) might romanticize the elements of the book that I feel are most deserving of being treated as satire.

All that being said, I didn’t hate the book. The plot was engaging, the prose was solid, and Tartt did a very good job of pulling me into the world. There was just an underlying elitism—even as she attempted to criticize elitism—to it all, and that hindered my enjoyment.

11

tmrtdc3 t1_ixgg77v wrote

Oooh this is interesting -- and a great explanation, thanks!

2

leefera t1_ixh3fkf wrote

For me I found it a bit unsettling how nothing really was happening, but then I just enjoyed being in that world and stopped wanting the plot to move on. I really loved it! But can understand why it's not for everyone.

I enjoyed the goldfinch too, and it was a bit pacier, especially towards the end, but just could not get into the little friend at all! So a mixed bag for me.

3

j-dusty-rose t1_ixhkbmy wrote

Generally, I need something that is more plot driven. None of the characters are particularly likeable, which usually doesn't bother me, but wow were these folks unlikeable. It's hard to enjoy a book sometimes when there is absolutely no one to root for.

The Greek Mythology connection was an interesting premise but it just didn't draw me in.

Also, the one female character was kind of a wet dishtowel of a character...one-dimensional, wishy-washy, no real presence.

This was a dnf for me.

3

mpedroncelli7 t1_ixgyggg wrote

I loved this book, but I loved if we were villains by M.L. Rio much more (I know that’s unpopular opinion but idc)

2

National_Sky_9120 t1_ixhhcdp wrote

Ohhh see I’m about to start If We Were Villains today and I’m a huge TSH fan…will report back 👀

1

mpedroncelli7 t1_ixhippm wrote

Please do 👀 like I said I loved TSH, but… I felt like it could’ve been 100 pages shorter with a different ending. If we were villains on the other hand was so beautifully constructed, every page I felt was central to the story

2

National_Sky_9120 t1_ixhs7du wrote

okay, i feel you on the different ending! like... my good sis, why that ending?? TSH is a little drawn out too and i think it feeds into the pretentious feel of the story but it could be shorter lol. i'll message you once i finish If We Were Villains!

1

MerlinandArthurp t1_ixhfq8k wrote

as someone who goes to a private liberal arts college i loved it :o i feel like Richard a lot because all the students are so rich and im not. i understand a lot of the criticisms people have with the book, and understand the donna tartts writing style isn't for everyone, but i love this book so much.

2

darthvirgin t1_ixho24j wrote

I was pretty angry when I finished this book. Felt utterly pointless and I’ve no idea why it’s so adored.

2

jasons_jukebox t1_ixhz540 wrote

It is easily my favorite Donna Tartt book. I felt like the long gaps enhanced the story - it puts you right in the scenes of the book. I don't really like her 2nd book and The Goldfinch is pretty good. But this one....this one is wonderful.

2

Vicious_Circle-14 t1_ixfod28 wrote

Read The Goldfinch

1

Amzuja t1_ixgl352 wrote

I love the secret history and hated the goldfinch, and to that end I agree with this recommendation. The comments on this sub have led me to the conclusion that you only love one of these books and hate the other

5

CuriousLapine t1_ixgoj87 wrote

I love both… 😬 I’m mildly worried that says something about me, though I don’t know what that would be.

4

Amzuja t1_ixgomh8 wrote

A rare find!! Are you Donna Tartt herself?!

5

Emotional-Mushroom39 t1_ixh1p56 wrote

Same! I was surprised I even tried Secret History because I read Goldfinch first. I also like her other book Little Friend.

1

Gwaptiva t1_ixgmi3y wrote

There may be a generational difference in the appreciation of this novel. It reminded me very much of my time at (a non-US) university, but ymmv depending on your mileage

1

[deleted] t1_ixhpx0z wrote

As someone who loves an engaging plot, it wasn’t for me. The people who like it either relate to it or just love the vibes. I don’t hold it against them. I loved the Goldfinch by Tartt despite its flaws.

1

coolnametho t1_ixj4ii4 wrote

Kinda good, has some strong images and scenes that stay with you, but overall underwhelming and even pointless. I think there are like two hundred mentions of someone falling asleep and then waking up in this book. People are constantly waking up and brushing their teeth to give us a tiny bit of plot driving action and fall right back asleep. Also the whole twins/incest/abuse story is quite weird and shocking, and yet it was barely addressed / explained, like wtf? Don't we deserve a back story or a deeper dive into the depth of their psychology at least? Without any backstory it just felt like a superficial little detail thrown in for the drama / for extra classic-greek-style vibes

1