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The Secret History

Donna Tartt

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Sep 16, 2013 Bridget rated it liked it

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I decided to reread this book because I love Donna Tartt's writing. I THOUGHT I liked this better than The Goldfinch, but while I never left a review the last time, I only gave it three stars. So I remembered that wrong. I also forgot a major plot point that happens with one of the main characters at the end of the novel. Memory is a funny thing.

So, upon rereading, what are my impressions? It's still a really powerful book I'll never forget. I'm GUESSING (but I'll never know for sure, since I d I decided to reread this book because I love Donna Tartt's writing. I THOUGHT I liked this better than The Goldfinch, but while I never left a review the last time, I only gave it three stars. So I remembered that wrong. I also forgot a major plot point that happens with one of the main characters at the end of the novel. Memory is a funny thing.

So, upon rereading, what are my impressions? It's still a really powerful book I'll never forget. I'm GUESSING (but I'll never know for sure, since I didn't write anything) the reason I didn't rate the book higher is that I felt I never really knew the characters or what really motivates them. BUT, something that I caught this time is how impressionable people are, and how most of us can fall for the cult of personality. In that sense, this book reminds me of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, minus the dark humor of that slender powerhouse. That, and how, in a misguided way, Henry's act in the end refutes everything that came before because it was sacrificial. (But the problem I kept running up against here was the question that I kept asking myself: "Can a psychopath truly love or sacrifice for others?" I suppose they can, but would they?) It got me thinking. I also really appreciated the conclusion, where Tartt lets us know what happens with many of the characters. It was really satisfying.

I'm not sure how I'd rate the book now. As I age, I realize more and more how flawed a rating system is. What I can say is that I think this book is worth giving a second reading and thinking about.

Food for Thought:

"When I disagreed--strenuously--and asked what was wrong with focusing one's entire attention on only two things, if those two things were Art and Beauty, Laforgue replied: "There is nothing wrong with the love of Beauty. But Beauty--unless she is wed to something more meaningful--is always superficial. It is not that your Julian chooses solely to concentrate on certain, exalted things; it is that he chooses to ignore others equally important." (Pg. 513) ...more

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