The Secret History by Donna Tartt

OMG I LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS BOOK AND SO GLAD I READ IT THIS FALL!!!!

I asked the host at my job what her favorite book was and she said the secret history. Knowing nothing about it except it’s considered a dark academia classic. I went in and was blown away. This was phenomenal writing, world building and such a cozy read. I would read it in the car, in the Sauna, in bed, and last night I finished the last 200 pages by 3 am.

I sort of related a lot to Richard. Being a first generation college student. I related a lot to
Him wanting to find a group and fit in. But having his own self excursions with other classmates not just his Greek life. I liked his time spent with Judy him partying and his poor lonely winter. I loved how he really came into his own during the whole story. When he realized the other 5 were the weird ones to the rest of the school and not to be infatuated with.

Okay so the other 5. GOD DAMN IT WHY HENRY YOU GOD DAMN NARCISSIST. I loved him I hated him. I really liked the one scene when he steps in front of Camila when she gets that drink thrown on her. He was so complex and beautiful in my head. Like the smart Version of the Hulk. The ending when he loses faith in Julian. I loved how he became their spiritual divide in the end. How he haunted them all.

Francis was a wonderful character. I liked all his interactions with Richard. Their secret moments. The author was pretty smart with having Charles in the background book 1 and comes off as this unhinged character in part 2. Kissing Camilla. The drinking problem. Him being the one to go after Henry when you thought it would be Richard. Camilla I was never really impressed with. She was treated as eye candy by all of them. Like all Richard did was kiss her and he was like marry me. Boy chill.

Bunny oh poor bunny. He did not deserve that. I get it he was an asshole. But I did have some sympathy and empathy for him. When we find out he was broke. I looked at him different. I understood why. But he was the most sane out of them. It’s crazy to think he was right about all of them.

Julian the professor I felt like was more involved with them being crazy. I felt like he was their ringleader. I found it crazy he jumped ship and dipped. I did like how George Orwell said he was surface level and the real professor who said it was based on said it was a betrayal.

I want to believe the Mountain lion killed the farmer. Then it was hysteria to kill Bunny because he found out.

Damn what a book. This needs a show to do it Justice not a movie. Really liked the book was set up in scenes. I’m gonna read Bret Easton Ellis now to see how the other half kids at Hampden college were now.

Oh the end shot of that dream Henry walking away. ICONIC!!!!!