The Secret History by Donna Tartt - worth persevering?

I read it when it came out (am old!), and loved it, but I can’t say if I would still enjoy it today. I enjoyed the Goldfinch but found that the middle section was far too long. If you are halfway and not enjoying it, you probably should give up. Life is too short to persevere with a book you don’t like.

I also read it years ago and loved it but can imagine I might feel different y now I am 40!

I also loved the goldfinch.

I read this around the time it came out. I was reading Latin & Greek at a private university in the US and am from the East Coast. I imagined my classmates as the main characters (none really quite fit); we discussed amongst ourselves who might be who.

There are some outstanding scenes (the funeral, the replacement professor) and characters (the redneck obsessed with 'promiskitty', Judy Poovey) which left me howling with laughter or shouting Yes!

In the same way that Brat Pack movies (Breakfast Club, etc) capture a certain time, this book NAILS it for private, east coast, liberal arts colleges and universities in the 90s.

I tried some of her other books but did not finish them.

I was certainly a long way past student age when I read it and I think I had two or three attempts before I got all the way through but I when I did I loved it and re-read it twice more. However if you are halfway through then I suspect it probably isn't for you.

I haven't been able to get on with any of her other books though.

Would love a TV adaptation. I don't think there has been one.

Not read it and doubt I will, mainly because of my hatred of The Goldfinch. That was sitting on my kindle for ages unread, and I finally picked it up because I was recovering from a hysterectomy and had plenty of time on my hands. So, so dull and overrated. If it wasn't for the circumstances at the time I'd have given up. But it's put me off reading any further Donna Tartt.

I love The Secret History, but currently struggling with The Goldfinch. I agree with others that if it’s not gripping you yet, I’d probably stop where you are

I read this last year for book group. We all hated it. Didn’t care about any of the characters at all. I kept thinking it might improve but it didn’t. I’d ditch it if I were you. I took my copy to a charity shop straight after our book group meeting!

Oooooh yes. Loved this so much. I was pretty much hooked by half way so maybe it's not for you though.
I tried and tried with The Goldfinch though. Kept on getting bored by the same place so gave up. Love Secret History though.

@Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies I think you have nailed it.

Was recommended to me by someone who has fabulous taste so was really looking forward to it. Was disappointed to give up halfway through. Just didn't grab me.

That would explain a lot!

I was in my 40s when I read it and wanted to give everyone a hearty slap. I resented spending my time with such awful characters.

I couldn’t understand why people raved, but perhaps I’d have raved too, at 20.

On of the fe books I gave up on half way through. And I read 50-100 books a year.

Just wasn't engaging. And regularly comes up on lists of "gave up on" so clearly a bit marmite.

I absolutely loved it when I read it in my early 20s - couldn't put it down. I then eagerly awaited her other books and didn't like them much at all. I've never read it again, so would be interested to see if my view has changed with age, but just can't imagine not loving it...
I suspect if you're not into it by now, it's just not for you.

Ha, interesting! I wasn't a student but a recent graduate when I read it. I loved it so much that I called in sick to finish it but I haven't re-read it in the intervening 20-something years!

I didn't like at the start, got going with it in the excitement about the planned 'shocking event'.

I was then not remotely shocked by the shocking event and very cross. I finished the book but found I didn't care what happened to any of the characters.

If you don't love it by halfway through I don't imagine that's going to change. I do love it (although weirdly I've never been able to get through her other books), largely for how persuasively she carries you along with certain things and then switches that around. But if you're not feeling it, you're not feeling it!

If you're not enjoying it, it's not worth it. I loved it from the start and have read it three times over the years.

I loved it! But if you're half way through and aren't enjoying it, don't torture yourself any more. I agree, the Goldfinch is a fantastic book!

Meh. I never made it to the end. Thought it became annoying but maybe (as @Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies said), I read it too late in life! I was in my 30s 😂

No.

I didn’t love it but persevered. As all the characters were pretty unpleasant, I struggled to care what happened to them. I would say it is worth finishing if you made it this far though. I did get more out of it as I went on and I preferred the second half.

I loved it when I read it but that was 20 or 30 years ago.

I think you've read enough to have given it a fair chance. If you're not enjoying it, stop reading it and give it to a charity shop.

We don't all have to like the same books.

I was indeed a student when I read it and now DD1 is talking about reading it I have said I'll reread it with her but I do worry that this might spoilt it for me. Having said that there are plenty people in The Goldfinch who are awful but I still thought the book was brilliant and heart rending.

Anyone else anxiously awaiting her next book?