The Secret History by Donna Tartt Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Secret History
Book Review: Can't stop reading it!
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book because I saw a recommendation of this author in Anne Rice website, my favourite writter, and i thought i could give it a try. I have enjoyed reading it a lot, it is one of the few books that I could take out of my mind and the only solution was to continue reading it. It does not happen very often, the last time was when i read A Simple Plan by Scott Smith, which is another amazing thriller.
The great achievement of this book is that you feel identified with the narrator, and step by step of his story you can't stop thinking that you would have done exactly the same as him.
I hope they can make a good movie of it!
Book Review: Cancel all your appointments
Summary: 5 Stars
This novel took me by surprise; I was not paying attention when it came out ten years ago and only decided to pick it up when I read good reviews for Tartt's follow-up novel, The Little Friend. What expectations I had were soon forgotten as I was drawn into this story of Richard, a disaffected Californian boy who yearns to escape his dusty, depressing town and lowbrow upbringing. He soon finds his way to a new world, a small New England college where he studies classics among an impossibly cool, wealthy and snobbish, and incredibly glamourous group of students. His looks and intelligence, plus some artful fibbing about his background, earn him their acceptance, although he soon learns that there are layers of acceptance in this group, which has many secrets. As the secrets slowly are revealed, and the body count mounts, Richard finds himself in tension between his loyalty to the group, especially the powerful Henry, and his own (late blooming) sense of the catastrophic consequences of straying beyond the limits of conventional morality and "losing the self." This is a beautifully written novel with an absorbing plot, and a fine portrait of the effects of fear and remorse on a person and their friendships. I suppose I was a little worried that it would be dull, because when all the "worthy" critics agree to rave about a book, it is often virtually unreadable. Not so here. I haven't enjoyed a book so much in ages.Book Review: Clever writing for a specific age group.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of my favorite books and I have reread it many times. I find the writing style very humorous, clever, and moving in a way other authors have yet to match. If you believe the editorial reviews you will assume its "precious and pretentious", but my theory on that is generational. I am forty years old and identify completely with the childhood of the narrater and the hazards it can create in later life, namely a willingness to idolize those who appear to have emerged from a more interesting and glamorous backgound and a tendency to ignore clay feet till they are melting around you. In the very first sentence, the narrator identifies his own fatal flaw as "a longing for the picturesque at all cost." I think the editors have missed the point of this book; it is not meant to be suspenseful or or a page turner, rather it is a study of how the cynical, disappointed, disinfranchised child of American suburbia can get tangled up in his own illusions about other people's lives. I have the impression that I am on the outer edge of the age group that will be able to understand or identify with this affliction so if you are say, older than 45, you probably won't like this book and may find it "precious and pretentious", but anyone younger will probably identify and find it involving. I believe an editor also described it as silly and shallow but a search on Amazon will reveal that there is a study guide written for this book and that would tend to contradict the "shallow" assessment. Humor and attitude are so often specific to a given generation. My parents find Bob Hope hysterical and I just don't get it. That probably means that neither Bob Hope nor the Secret History are destined to become timeless classics, but both are highly enjoyable in their own times and there is value in that. I wish Donna Tartt would write again. P.S. If you like this book, you will probably also enjoy Pete Dexter's The Paperboy. Its spectacular writing from a similar point of view.
Book Review: College Kid Prodigy Deserves Accolades
Summary: 5 Stars
I think it is ridiculous to review this book without acknowledging that it was written by one so young. The girl is outrageously talented. Sure some of the characterizations are underwritten but let the poor girl ripen. At least she isn't Rosamund Pilcher or something. I wouldn't give 5 stars to a mature novelist but there is no doubt in my mind that this debut deserves the designation. I wouldn't give one star to most of the stuff that is out there. As someone who has read most of the classic novels and few modern ones because they can't grab my attention or are prosaic in tone, I say Donna Tartt shows the potential to be the real deal.Book Review: Could be stronger...
Summary: 3 Stars
I think the book has good elements to tell us a good story, however it loses its virtual qualitative narrative in somewhat emptiness dialogues. Its characters go no longer, in a VICIOUS CIRCLE. Neverthless, the idea is preety good.