I haven’t enjoyed reading a novel so much for a little while. Donna Tartt’s story of a group of twenty-somethings’ dark past is clevely plotted and beautifully written. It was an amazing experience with plenty of suspense, getting to know the characters and trying to get into their minds. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next, but at the end of the book, I slowed down hoping to prolong the enjoyment.
The biggest attration for me was that I felt for most of the characters, even Bunny; I couldn’t help but have a sense of loss when he was gone. It was disheartening to see an innocent experiment somehow turn into a monstrous act, and even worse, turned a group of friends against each other. The ugliness of distrust was remarkably described; sharp and unmistaken. Like Richard, I was hoping that the series of incidents would only strengthen the bond between the group. That’s why it was even more painful to see them drift apart. The indifference and isolation was almost unbearable.
The Secret History remined me of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. It was shocking to see innocent kids group together to kill, but the emotion was much stronger when I was absorbed into the pyschology of the quiet, manupulative Herny and the nervous, desperate Charles in The Secret History.
4.5 of 5 stars