This video really solidified for me that just because the other person didn’t like it does not mean you will too please read this book before you follow other people’s opinions because this book is very much loved for a reason
This is my favorite book of 2024 this year so far. 😅😅 Since you didn't like Babel it makes sense this one didn't click either. I think for me the appeal is the overly satirical writing and long winded inner monologues of learning a lot about the characters. I LOVE books like that and am always looking for more.
Also, this book made me laugh out loud throughout the entire time I was reading it, I thought it was hilarious at times because of how insufferable the characters are 😂 my number 1 factor of my enjoyment of a book is how fleshed out the characters are. Plot is very much a secondary concern, or added bonus but I mainly enjoy extensive inner monologues. Another good example of something I've enjoyed with similar writing in my experience is House of Leaves and Motherthing. I think both have the characters/satire that I really enjoy.
Why am I not surprised 😅 I had same experience. I don't get hype at all except pretentious writing. I believe that lot of people might not have rated below thinking they are not smart enough. But seriously this book dragged. I remember I read it in long time. And the reason was it was boring and I was forcing myself to read it even though I was not enjoying the experience. It was my ego not letting go of how can I not like this book which everyone apparently does. But whoever I talk to or watch on RU-vid, no one is a fan of this book. There are very few people who liked it but I would rather read other books if my main motive was reading good literature. Overall, a pretentious book with pretentious characters without a gripping story.
I think a lot of the dislike for this book lies within the thought of it being a mystery, which in some cases it is. However, I think the crystal clear (and sometimes overbearing) description that Tart gives her characters really envelopes you into the plot. (SPOILER) Within the prologue you find out that Bunny dies and as you learn more and more about these characters you go from a state of loving them, to hating them, and in Henry’s case, mourning them. It is through and through a character piece, otherwise it would have ended with Bunny being found and everyone going to jail.
I feel your pain. I hated this book. It sounded so up my alley and I couldn't have been more disappointed!! The characters were flat, Richard couldn't be more boring, and the worst part for me was that every bit of action happened while Richard wasn't present - so you hear about them second-hand. So much telling, very little showing.
I hate that the blurb makes you think Julian is going to be a driving force in the plot when he is very much….not present? I was shocked when Richard calls him his father figure like when did this happen. The characters all felt the same to me. I seriously had a hard time distinguishing between Charles and Francis and could only tell Camilla apart because of her gender. About 70% of this book is just pointless garbage which would be fine if it was at least interesting.
I think the reason I loved this book is because I’m such an aesthetic/environmental reader and I’m very character driven, so I’m okay reading books that don’t have a rapid plot as long as I’m getting to learn more about the world and rhetorical characters this book is building. I love feeling immersed. I hear people have the same complaints about parts of Stephen King’s “It,” and that book is my favorite because I love those extra parts about Derry’s history- it adds atmosphere and that’s what The Secret History does really well too. You just feel immersed.
Not sure if you knew that Donna Tart narrated the audiobook and I couldn’t’t stand her narration. Wish they would re-record with a professional VA but honestly I’m never reading it again. I liked it more than you but it was more for the writing and mood than the plot.
I wish this book was more of an exploration of the classical Greek mindset in a contemporary setting. That’s kind of what it feels like the first 1/3 of the book. Instead, none of that really becomes relevant. We even learn that Julian himself was sort of a phony. You get these glimpses of something interesting (particularly the ritual in the woods) but it’s just never explored?! Bathing in pig blood… They mention the body of the farmer being “mutilated” at one point. I thought that would be explained more…but nope. It’s never brought up again. Same with the sex rituals. And what, did they ACTUALLY see Dionysus? For me, the most interesting potential of the story was skipped over in favor of alcoholism and paranoia. I didn’t hate it, and I did find it well written and memorable, but I just wished it would be something different when it was over.
I was so disappointed when i finished the book. I dont get the hype at all. I was expecting so much more but i had to force myself to get to the end. I liked the first half and it grabbed my attention, so i was expecting the same (or even more) from the second half but it was a whole lot of yapping up until the last like 10 pages. It felt like a waste of time for 290 pages, until the plot happened💀 yea i was pissed when i finished, to say the least...
Interesting how 2 people can see the same thing and come away with different views. I'm not super into this book or anything, I just found the audiobook chill, but the winter break part that you complained about was one of my favorite/most memorable little episodes.
often the publishing industry push a certain book or a certain author that isnt that good. Which is why Hemingway said, 'Read dead men'. This happens in the music industry as well. when i read living authors I've either seen the film/series adaptation or have been recommended.
Just finished this book myself and I really loved it. So sad to see it's not hitting with everyone but from what you said I think it might have to do a lot with Donna Tartt's writing style. This, inner monologue, almost journal-esque type of writing, for me, is what I really like about her, I think this is also seen in the goldfinch which I also enjoyed quite a lot. I must say, if the book didn't hit with you from it just seems it might have been wiser to just drop it. I was really curious to see what parts of book two you didn't like and why but it really does seem thar it was the length and pacing of it that you disliked. When you said "not a lot is happening" i was actually quite shocked since I thought the book had too much going on at some parts of it! Might also be the fact that you didn't get into the sort of "elitism" and "pretentiousness" the book has, for me I thought Richard was a great character to showcase the contrast between his old "greek fatal flaw" lifestyle and the exciting and mysterious one that was Julian's class. Not sure if you've read other books by Donna Tartt but I really would suggest reading the goldfinch! I think it still showcases a lot of the things I like about her books, however if you still dont like it from the get-go I would suggest dripping it since it is a bit longer than this one
I feel like that book gaslighted me into thinking I liked it because I liked it when I started it, then I started hating it cause the chapters were insanely long and everyone was unbearable, then I actively hated it and continued reading it out of spite, I liked it again, I was like “what the fuck is this even about anymore?” and then I liked it again when I finished it so I gave it 5 stars. Like??? How does that make sense??? 😂
It’s so nice to find someone who also didn’t like this! I read it prior to reading Peter Swanson’s Eight Perfect Murders, and I hated it too! What I do love, is The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths….that’s more what I call dark Academia…except maybe not so dark…just murder in academia. If you haven’t read that please do, the audio is awesome.
I wasn't impressed with it either. It's like Tartt feels she is doing something so serious and takes herself so seriously, and that's my least favorite trait in a person. She needs to lighten up a bit.
I also gave it a 2 star. I just don't understand how this book is the mother of dark academia when it's just boring as f*ck academia. before Henry shot himself, I was hoping he'd just kill the rest of them and be done with it. I wanted to enjoy the book, I've heard others saying how much they enjoy it, but not really why/how they enjoy it.
I also hated this book. I gave it 2 1/2 stars and the half was simply because I thought it was well written. I don’t understand the hype at all it is so slow and so dull!
Maybe some people like slow paced books? And the dullness really set the overall modd of the book for me. But i get it, this books not everyone's cup of tea
Hi Ashley, I too have never heard of this book and somehow just stumbled upon it yesterday. It sounds very interesting. I will be interested to hear your thoughts at the end of reading.
lol, I didn’t think you were going to like this book. I, too, was underwhelmed and found it boring in many places. I did find it hard to stop thinking about afterwards, and watched a lot of reviews, too. You should listen to the Once Upon a Time at Bennington College podcast. There are a few semi popular people who were there in the 80s with Donna. All the characters in the book were based off real people, including Julian, and she so thinly veiled who she was speaking about im seriously not sure how she wasn’t sued. I THINK Bunny was meant to be Bret Easton Ellis (American Psycho) but I could have him confused with someone else. But like the Greek teacher there was paid $1 and had taught a royal princess from another country, etc. He was super picky about who he’d let into his class, too (not Donna, surprise surprise).
this was on my Top 5 Lit·Fic books of 2023 .. course I read it in early '23 and didn't read that much Lit·Fic.. I've wondered if I'd feel differently about it now upon a re-read. I can definitely say though that I was not a fan of the super long chapters.. each one was 40 pgs long besides the middle and last chapter... which were 100 pgs long.. yes chapters as long as a novella.
Also, did you like Bunny by Mona Awad? I'm reading it now and am about halfway through. So far I really like it. If you've done a review of it, please link me to it. Thanks!
I'm so glad I found your video on this book....I've been listening to it on audio and its been taking me forever 🙈🙈🙈 I've read 2 other books in-between 😂. I thought there was something wrong with me,as so many people adore this book....and I'm struggling so much with it,I'm finding it very boring 😢.I'm nearly finished.....
I'm finishing this book rn and I'm really unsure how to rate it. I mostly like it and I think it's a good book but I would also agree that it's a bit overrated.
I dnf’d it immediately because harsh take here, I don’t care how good a book is but if chapters are more than 20 pages I’m OUT. There is no need on this planet for a chapter to be over 30-40 pages that’s crazy
Spoilers in this comment ** This is so validating to watch thank you for making this video. I found the characters kind of impossible to relate to and I found Richard to just be really creepy. Especially with his obsession for Camilla where he literally says he wants to assault her at one point??? I felt like I had to finish it and was just dragging through it but I just really dislike this book. I found the first few chapters captivating but the characters just keep getting less understandable and I just felt bad for the farmer they killed. It felt like Richard also viewed this as the best time of his life in a really perverted way and it made me sad that he doesn’t seem to obtain any personal growth into his adulthood after college.
I literally hate this book. I tried to read it in January and it was such a bad way to start the year! 🙈😂 Took me dayyyyys to get out of the inevitable reading slump!
i'm just not interested in dark academia, i don't think this would be a book for me. most people who love it i think just love it for the vibes and character drama....while that can be fun nothing about this book speaks to me. thanks for spoiling it for me, i literally already forgot what the "plot" was so i know i didn't miss out on much lol
I read this twice. Once several years ago and recently for book club. I totally agree with your review. I listened to the audiobook read by Donna Tartt and didn’t care for that either. I feel I really gave this book a good effort but it just wasn’t for me. I also read Goldfinch and also agree with you…no more Donna Tartt.
DNF'd more times than I can count. I kept trying to go back to it. (I think it followed me around several bookstores). On my worst books ever list. Stick a pencil in my eye.
Oh no, this does not bode well for me. I trust and love your channel and reviews. I have this book on my TBR and have been afraid to start it. This was an impulse buy for me because of all the great reviews. You may have saved me from spending time in reading hell with a book I probably will not enjoy.
You’re so right about the Saltburn comparisons. The difference is that Saltburn moved beyond the aesthetics and crafted and interesting and engaging story.
I feel seen 😆 such an overrated book in my opinion. I normally love unlikable characters and a mystery/thriller/dark academia story but this just didn't give me what I wanted. It's a slog. It might have been a fresh concept at the time it was published but I think later books, that may have been inspired by The Secret History, have been more entertaining or well done.
