Donna Tartt, winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for her most recent novel, The Goldfinch, established herself as a major talent with The Secret History, which has become a contemporary classic.Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum … a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality their lives are changed profoundly and forever, and they discover how hard it can be to truly live and how easy it is to kill.
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This is one of my top favorite books of all time. Donna Tartt wrote a classic set at a fictitious New England college. The story is told in the first person through the eyes of a California outsider, who joins a group of elite, classics scholars and becomes involved in a heinous crime. It is a psychological triumph written in the cleverest voice …
Slow going, but so worth it.
Again, we’re hitting all my feels: closed-off world of ivory-tower intellectuals who do terrible terrible things. Brilliant.
One of my favorite books!
Interesting
Both The Secret History and The Goldfinch are among the best books I’ve read. Donna Tartt’s writing style, character development, and plot lines are so masterful that these two books were difficult for me to put down.
One of my favorite books.
I will always think of The Secret History as my favorite book. Incredible.
Like Patricia Highsmith, Donna Tartt has the ability to make us side with sinners. In this brilliant story of six classics students at a small college in Vermont she introduces us to Richard Papen who looks back at the effect that the murder of one of the group had upon the perpetrators. Highly recommended.
This is one of my all time favorite books, reminiscent of Crime and Punishment. The effects of our actions never really leave us.
This, to me, is better than the book that won her the award. Riveting.
This book has stayed with me as one of my favorites. I love how Donna Tartt writes so convincingly in a male voice. Not to be missed. Well developed characters and a moving story. Loved it!
I love the author’s ability to make you see and feel these people: their wants, desires, secrets. It was an intense read, and I think it accurately portrayed the hidden chemistry of friendships.
American college students doing drugs, studying Greek and committing murder. Donna Tartt lures us into a world where the normal limits of college life disappear and something closer to supernatural anarchy takes over. There are half-revealed scenes of ritual horror, betrayals of trust, free love for some, tantalising frustrations for others. …
This was one of the books I read for my book club this year and it was truly jaw dropping. It was fantastic! It is a little slow in the beginning but as soon as it picks up you can’t put it down.
My all time favorite. I’m reading it right now for probably the sixth time
Love a good murder and it’s repercussions.
This author really knows how to tell a story!
This book wasn’t what I expected. I was expecting more of a mystery. By the time i hit the halfway point, I got bored with the story.
Not really a fan of Donna Tartt. This book was disturbing.