Shelfari: The Site for Books & ReadersShelfari Logo

The Secret History
 

The Secret History (Vintage Contemporaries)

by Donna Tartt

Truly deserving of the accolade a modern classic, Donna Tartt’s novel is a remarkable achievement—both compelling and elegant, dramatic and playful.

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 existence of their... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  mystery,  contemporary fiction,  murder,  college (all tags)

Readers

Groups

  • Bestseller's Browsers Discussion Group
  • 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die Discussion Group
  • Book Club Discussion Group
  • Books 2007 Discussion Group
  • 50 Book Challenge! Discussion Group
  • hooked on books Discussion Group

Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
Jen M
  • Rated 4 stars

“This book was turning out to be my favorite until the end when things get a little hairy. Sometimes you wonder out loud "why doesn't the author just stop here? This would be a good ending". I'd still recommend it - but it's a heavier read.”

Jen M’s full review »
more reviews »

Didn’t Like It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
Theophania
  • Rated 2 stars

“Super disappointing. One more story of a boy trying to fit into a class above his current standing, that probably includes an elusive and enigmatic female (a familiar plot to anyone who has read Great Expectations). But instead of taking this concept in a new direction, Tartt just it just devolves into chaos. I know some people loved this book but I felt very let down.”

Theophania’s full review »
more reviews »
Community:
  • Rated 4.183457 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Modern Hype

    modern hype said:

    “Did anyone else hear a young Thirston Howl the Third (Gillagan's Island) when reading Bunny's lines?”

    posted Monday, July 21 2008
  • Katy B

    katy b said:

    “Jessica Stephenson gave this to me, it was supposed to kick off our two woman "book club" but that never happened. I was into it but put it down in favor of magazines, movies and tv. Must get back to it soon.”

    posted Friday, April 25 2008
  • uplandpoet

    uplandpoet said:

    “How could anyone ask, "should I read this book?" about the Sevret History, if they had read the comments and reviews?
    Have you been bombarded by complete strangers who wanted to know, after you have
    written a review, and/or made comments expressing your opinion of a book,
    whether they should read this book? And it isn't that they took the time to see
    who you are, then ask in a note, no, they just spammed you and everyone else on
    Shelfari who has said book on shelf. Does this irriate you? If so, you can do
    something about it: you can contact either of the two Shelfari reps below, or
    better yet, you can contact both of them and ask them to please remove the new
    and annoying feature that allows this spamming!

    http://www.shelfari.com/amanda

    http://www.shelfari.com/timothygray
    ”

    posted Wednesday, April 16 2008
  • rizzledizzle

    rizzledizzle said:

    “I'm a first time reader of a Donna Tartt book. I really enjoyed the story as it were, but felt that it kept dragging on in a way. This could be because I read the book 30 minutes at a time (on my way to work, and on my way home). Also, I'm not so sure I'm satisfied with how Henry ended things. And I felt that the theme of Greek/Roman classical culture could have been referred to throughout the book a little more consistently.
    But alas, I did want to keep reading. And some of her descriptions of the school reminded me of my days so long ago (3 years) at a small liberal arts school with a bunch of rich kids debauching themselves and taking themselves too seriously talking about Lysistrata, the Bacchae and various other works of Greek philosophers.”

    posted Thursday, April 10 2008
  • Amir B

    amir b said:

    “very nice book, I entirely agree about it”

    posted Wednesday, April 2 2008
© 2008 Shelfari, Inc. | Portions of Shelfari.com are Copyright © 1996-2008 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy