From the Bookshelf of Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought
Let me preface this by saying that I could happily read any book set in a prep school or elite New England liberal arts schools. This is probably out of my own fascination with American class issues and romantic notions of old money and the value of simple meals and cigarettes. I spent the whole weekend reading Secret History, making simple grilled cheese sandwiches, tea, and soft-boiling eggs while sighing fetchingly. I should also point out that I have zero framework of anything even slightly
...more
May 11, 2014
Ashley
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fun,
fiction-novels-plays-stories
What a wonderful novel-- dark and witty. I think I enjoyed it so much because Tartt's characters are such wonderful, subtle parodies of the types of people that end up at small liberal arts colleges. I couldn't help but imagine that the fictional Hampden College looked a lot like my own alma mater. It's also got that timeless prep-school story down (think of A Separate Peace). The novel itself isn't a who-done-it, instead it's a study of friendship, camaraderie, and ethics. It's a bit long but I
...more
The Secret History tells the story of a loner transfer student at a college in Vermont who penetrates the elite world of the school's tiny Greek department and finds himself in totally over his head when his charismatic new friends involve him in a murder. The book is a delight to read - beautifully written and compelling - though the elitism of the characters and setting can feel a little off-putting (or maybe that's just because I read this book after a whole series of books written by nonwhit
...more
This book was....weird.
I am desperately starting thick books in search of a good plane read. Hoping this is the one....
------------------
Ok, this definitely satisfied my need for something vaguely sensational to read in transit, though it was not the 5-star read I've been hoping for since last summer. Oh, well. Maybe it was too hyped up by other people?
Or maybe I just can't relate to classics majors? I must say, I got really emotionally involved during the two pages devoted to Christopher Marlowe....
...more
------------------
Ok, this definitely satisfied my need for something vaguely sensational to read in transit, though it was not the 5-star read I've been hoping for since last summer. Oh, well. Maybe it was too hyped up by other people?
Or maybe I just can't relate to classics majors? I must say, I got really emotionally involved during the two pages devoted to Christopher Marlowe....
...more
An amazing psychological page-turner. It's an uncommon mystery in that the reader knows who committed the crime from the beginning. The novel combines elements from Lord of the Flies and the Leopold/Loeb murders. It's a dark mystery that is very well-written.
...more
Aug 18, 2017
James Vickers
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
gen-x,
book-love-erin-morgenstern
