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The Secret History by Donna Tartt - worth persevering?

64 replies

cloudsss · 20/07/2024 21:39

No spoilers please. I’m nearly half way.

I loved The Goldfinch and this is so raved about I was really looking forward to it and now I’m a bit underwhelmed. Persevere or admit defeat?

OP posts:
Merrilydancing · 21/07/2024 07:41

I’m going against the grain here to say that you should ditch it. I sadly persevered with it, it didn’t get any better and just a book about kids who thought that they were somehow special whereas they were just privileged brats.

Sethera · 21/07/2024 07:38

I wouldn't go so far as to put it on my 'love' list, but I did enjoy it, and I have re-read it a couple of times.

My philosophy is that there's no point wasting time reading books you are not enjoying, so whether to persevere depends on whether you're finding it OK but not perhaps the amazing read you hoped for, or whether you are actually finding it a chore to go on.

If the former, it's worth reading it to the end as the resolution of the various strands is quite satisfying.

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 21/07/2024 07:38

I’ve said this before on MN. I think The Secret History is a fabulous book if you read it as a student. When you re-read it as a fully fledged adult, you just want to slap everyone.

EllieQ · 21/07/2024 07:37

I loved it when I first read it about 20 years ago, but suspect I’d find the story and characters annoying and self-indulgent now that I’m a cynical 40-something. Even the beautiful writing couldn’t get past that.

Tootingbec · 21/07/2024 07:33

The Secret History is one of my all time favourite books that I have re-read several times.

So I am biased and say “stick with it” but like others have said, if you are really not enjoying it by now then maybe ditch for something else

HuongVuong3 · 21/07/2024 07:30

I also love it, and have reread it and listened to the audiobook many times. However like others here I was gripped straight away so maybe it's not for you.

JaninaDuszejko · 21/07/2024 07:28

I loved The Secret History when I read it (over 30 years ago!). But if you aren't enjoying it then you don't need our permission to stop reading it, life is too short to read books you are not enjoying. Put it to the charity shop where someone else can find it and choose another book that is more to your taste.

CrepuscularCritter · 20/07/2024 22:02

Absolutely loved it, so I'm struggling to turn my more critical eye as to whether it is worth persevering if you are not loving it so far. I think all the threads begin to come together at about this stage before the pace increases. So I would say yes, and I hope you are more captivated as you progress. If nothing else, Tartt's elegance of prose gets me every time, with the "nights bigger than imagining".

SanFranBear · 20/07/2024 21:44

I really, really liked it but have disliked her others so now avoid her completely. I think it's a very different book for her maybe...?

Appalonia · 20/07/2024 21:42

Yes, it's v dark, but brilliant.

Norugratsatall · 20/07/2024 21:41

Definitely! It's slow I know but I absolutely loved it.

CharlotteLightandDark · 20/07/2024 21:41

I’ve not read the goldfinch but this one and the little friend. Preferred secret history definitely

lavenderlou · 20/07/2024 21:41

Edited my previous post to say if you don't love it by half way it's probably not for you.

Crocdiamond · 20/07/2024 21:40

Yes definitely. Loved it

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