“Beauty is terror. Whatever we call beautiful, we quiver before it.” – Donna Tartt, The Secret History
Hi everyone! Today we will review The Secret History by Donna Tartt.
The main character of this story, Richard, becomes obsessed with a group of students at a small liberal arts college in New England. Joining into the group of ‘elite’ students—Henry, Francis, Camilla, Charles, and Bunny—a friendship forms, but it is evident there is something more. Secrets come to light, the friendships formed become strained and lives are lost. If you love stories that leave you sitting on the edge of your seat wanting more, The Secret History is exactly the book you need to get out of your book slump.
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Now for my thoughts. On GoodReads, I gave this book 5/5 stars. It’s one of my favorites and I’ve read it multiple times. I love the sense of mystery that this book provides and the suspense while reading. From the beginning, you know that every character has an interesting aspect. For one, Richard, the main character, is an unreliable narrator so you never know if what he is saying is 100% truthful. Within the friend group, there is such a strange and interesting dynamic that leaves you guessing all the time. You can never figure out if everyone likes each other or hates each other. I don’t want to say too much as I don’t want to give away what happens. But if you have ever read If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio, you will like The Secret History.
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