THE SECRET HISTORY

By Donna Tartt.

I just finished TSH and I felt like I needed to talk about this book.

''The Secret History (1992) is the gripping tale of a group of Classics students at a New England college who are involved in the murder of a classmate. The novel explores the complex relationships between the friends, and the impact the incident has on their lives''

This is the most accurate description of this novel that I could find. The secret history is a very well-known book, dark academia coded and massively defined as a modern classic. It is because of this that I decided to read it, about 3 weeks ago.

I must admit it's a difficult book. It is not amusing in its majority, it's long and slow-paced. The only reason why I finished it in a few weeks is because it's summer and I have an insane amount of free time. And because I wanted to discover what was all the fuss about. However, I can not say this was a bad book. On the contrary, I do believe it will become a classic but because it has all the characteristics to do so. Maybe like the Greeks' books or a Dostoevsky's novel.

The book it's separated into 2 parts: the 1st tells the events which led to the murder of Bunny Concoran (this is not a spoiler, it is stated in the very first sentence), they way the narrator gets to know the characters and how they live and think; the 2nd narrates the events after the murder, thougths, etc. Donna Tartt is a very eloquent, elegant and descriptive writer, her writing is beautiful and that is something you can observe in The Secret History.

After finishing it I can't express properly how I feel about this book. It is different, and not entirely plot-focused. It's more psychological and narrates the strange parallel reality they seem to live in. It explores the boundaries of morality and the dangers of the aesthetic. Not a happy, light-heartened book at all.

The question here, did I like this book?

On its whole, I did. And I do believe it deserves its recognition. Although I'd advise you not to go with high expectatives of a mind-blowing plot, because it is not how it is. It had pretty boring parts. The chapters were too long and descriptive and I feel the lack of perspectives from the other characters, as the book is narrated from the point of view of the main character. But the almost poetic way of telling the stories that the characters go through, their weird relationship, the amazing quotes and vocabulary, and above all, their obscure, dark personalities, it's something worth reading.

So if you should read it of not, it's up to you. I think it's utterly interesting and might read it again, but I understand it's not everyone's cup of tea. And if you're not keen on classics might not even get to finish it. I have mixed feelings but completely loved the ending and last pages. It had so many reflecting points.

Now I'll leave you some quotes here so you can see how it is.