“The Secret History”
By Alexis McCrea
Staff Writer
Want a good book to cuddle up with for fall? Well, Donna Tartt’s novel, “The Secret History” has it all. From cozy coffee shops, heavy sweaters and long nights studying, to performing an ancient Greek ritual. Why not pick it up this Autumn?
“The Secret History” follows Richard Papen, a working-class native Californian, as he navigates the channels of Hampden College, an elite university in Vermont. During his first weeks at Hampden, Richard finds his niche in a small, tight-knit group of classics students. But, this group quickly falls apart when they perform an Ancient Greek ritual known as a bacchanal that goes terribly wrong. Once this takes place, the group disbands both in their relationships with one another and psychologically.
“The Secret History” is a page-turner with a cozy autumnal vibe that’s perfect for curling up on a chilly fall night. At every turn the book leaves the reader in almost painful suspense of what will happen next. Many of the events will leave the reader shocked and wondering what’s to come.
Tartt’s use of voice and characterization was great. While Richard, our narrator, is telling the story you find that he is older and simply sharing the events that occured in the past. It really feels like you’re dad is recounting his college days to you. At certain points Richard sounds so nostalgic, it makes the reader wonder how much of the book is based on Tartt’s own personal experience.
Each character is so complex and unique, the sweet and beautiful twins Charles and Camilla, straight-laced genius Henry, well dressed, and well-spoken Francis and lively jokester, Bunny. Even the background characters, who at the beginning seem just like stereotypical stock characters turn out to be deeply complex.
As the story goes on, and we see a decline in the character’s psychological well being, we also see a decline in how Richard views Hampden and his peers. The book opens with a glittering description of Hampden College, upscale and filled with rich kids. We also see Richards’s highly polished perception of his friends. As the story goes on, Tartt reveals that the college and the students that attend it are not as glittering as Richard once thought them to be.
To be fair the book does have its flaws, and Tartt’s writing style isn’t for everyone. At points, it rambled and was over dense with information and detail. There were parts where I would skip over two or three paragraphs because it would just go on.
The characters themselves were also so pretentious it was hard to stomach at points. I know that part of the book is to poke fun at rich kids who think they’re super smart because they took AP English and read Hamlet in High School. I get that’s what it’s trying to do, but it’s too much sometimes. I was able to get past it, but I can see some people not being able to. If you’re not someone who doesn’t like to read all that much, this might not be the book for you.
Whether or not you’re looking to get into the fall mood, I highly suggest “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt. Final review 7.5/10.