Donna Tartt - THE SECRET HISTORY

Pros: A well-written, intriguing literary thriller.

Cons: It may be difficult to put this novel down.

Review: When one thinks of thrillers, privileged classics students and snow-covered northeastern colleges aren’t necessarily the first images that come to mind. However, The Secret History manages quite successfully to be a smart, literary tale of murder. It...

Pros: Extremely well written, gripping plot

Cons: None

Review: If you enjoy a gripping plot that's well written, this is the novel for you. Be warned though, you will not be able to put this book down - all six hundred and sixty pages of it.
This is a remarkable first novel, and sadly the only one from Donna...

Pros: Infuses a familiar theme with new life and mystery

Cons: Lengthy descriptions are lovely, but may lose some readers

Review: Upon first glance, Donna Tartt's _Secret History_ looks very unassuming. I am not ordinarily a fan of mystery or suspense novels, but I chose this book because I wanted something to read, and was pleasantly surprised.

The story begins with...

Pros: extremely well written, suspense, complicated characters

Cons: none

The Bottom Line: Read this book! Excellent plot, character development and conflict! Don't be scared by its length!

Review: The first paragraph of the prologue of this book begins by describing a murder that the narrator (Richard Papen) committed along with his friends. By placing the climax at the beginning, the author creates a book in which you will literally try to rush ...

Pros: fast-paced, well-written, suspenseful, intriguing, thought provoking

Cons: anti-climatic

The Bottom Line: Read this book! You must! Beautifully written...captivating...emotionally strong...just plain great!

Review: Its funny that I had never really heard of "The Secret History" until recently; then all of a sudden it was recommended to me over and over again within a three month period. When I saw it on sale at Waterstones in London I picked it up just for plain...

Pros: It stands to be read more than ten times. I know, I´ve tried.

Cons: The book had to end somewhere...

Review: When we think of murder, we almost without exception regard it as a profoundly unethical, inhumane and immoral act. But even so, murder do occur, and consequently we often consider those who have committed murder as, in a fundamental way, different from...

Pros: Well written, great characters, surprises at every turn

Cons: Absolutely nothing

Review: "A Secret History" by Donna Tartt is the most well written and captivating book I have ever read. From the very beginning to the last page, I was enthralled - actually upset when I finished the book - I didn't want it to end. The first time I...

Pros: Smart, suspenseful, absorbing

Cons: None

Review: I read Donna Tart's "The Secret History" over two years ago, and I've been eagerly awaiting her second novel. "The Secret History" was my favorite novel that year, thanks to wonderful characters, an atmosphere drippingly evocative...

Pros: Good Plot

Cons: Ending was not the best

Review: Donna Tartt's "The Secret History" is perhaps one of the best, most entertaining books I have ever read.

The authors hooks the reader almost from the first sentence. I found myself not being able to stop reading this intelligent,...

Pros: Intense and gripping. Original and complex characters. Philosophically and psychologically important.

Cons: Scattered with Latin and Greek idioms. Confusing if you don't speak the language, but tolerable.

The Bottom Line: Months later and I haven't stopped dipping into this book and re-reading parts. It is so readable, each sentance is so carefully chosen. A masterpiece in so many dimensions.

Review: By far, one of the most stunning pieces of fiction I have read in recent years. This book has much to offer to any reader, whether you are looking for intriguing characters, sophisticated prose, a spellbinding thriller, an exploration into the nature of ...