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Original poster

secret history,,,Donna tarrt, read it? What dis you think?

66 replies

deanychip · 12/01/2009 17:14

Im plowing on.

is it worth continuing?

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donnie · 14/02/2009 18:26

I finally got around to reading this last year on holiday and I loved it, it is excellent. Wouldn't mind reading it again tbh!

Pannacotta · 13/02/2009 16:51

I loved it but I did read it when I was 25 which is quite a while ago now...
It was long but dont remember struggling with it.

shinyshoes · 13/02/2009 16:45

I'm 'ploughing' too I'm only up to the part where they are staying in an aunts house.

I will plough on though

Califrau · 11/02/2009 23:07

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FAQinglovely · 11/02/2009 23:05

oh I loved this book - it's on my shelf as a "must read again soon once I start organising my time better" book (well and finding the box it's packed in too).

naturalblonde · 11/02/2009 23:04

Loved it loved it loved it.

It's in my all time top 10 books.

Didn't like the little friend much.

FlorenceDaphne · 11/02/2009 23:03

How could you possibly be merely ploughing?

I remember reading this one Christmas when good friends were due to come and stay. I felt positively FURIOUS with them for disruptingmy reading time. Seriously, I couldn't put it down, and normally I'm quite fussy over what I read.

I didn't think so much of The Little Friend, though.

poshwellies · 21/01/2009 15:27

Just finished Little Friend yesterday,agree with minko,it was really slow going and had a weak ending,not quite sure how I feel about it really.

I haven't read Secret History.

Fennel · 21/01/2009 15:20

I liked it, but then I do have a soft spot for pretentious tosh about undergraduates reading philosophy and forming exclusive little clubs at arcane institutions.

notyummy · 21/01/2009 15:19

Really liked it. Much preferred it to LIttle Friend. Dh wasn't sure...he found all the characters so dislikable he struggled to finish it.

debbiedlemur · 21/01/2009 15:14

I loved it from the start, I would even say it was my favourite book of all time. I have re-read it several times since and still think it is great. My 18 year old daughter has just read it and she thought it was amazing.

littlelamb · 16/01/2009 18:22

Loved it. Probably the best book I read last year. It really does stay with you.

Podrick · 16/01/2009 18:21

Loved the Secret History and quite liked the Little Friend too.

worzelgummidge · 14/01/2009 11:53

Another Secret History lover. Didn't bother with Little Friend as I had heard it was total crap

JulesJules · 14/01/2009 09:34

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

minko · 14/01/2009 09:32

Just finished 'ploughing' through Little Friend. Now that WAS hard work and whilst it was quite enjoyable it was soooo slow it's like wading through treacle and the ending just doesn't satisfy when you finally get there.

Secret History was great, read it years ago.

PinkFurryStripeyTiger · 13/01/2009 23:21

I enjoyed Secret History. Read it without any expectations and was pleasantly suprised.

FlossieT · 13/01/2009 23:17

Loved it.

Tobias Hill - The Hidden sounds strikingly similar from the Grauniad's review on Sat. so am thinking about ordering that from the library for comparison.

forkhandles · 13/01/2009 23:14

I loved it too, I read it recently after it was discussed on a Book Theif thread a while ago. Took a little while for me to get in to but after that really enjoyed it.

dittany · 13/01/2009 14:03

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plumandolive · 13/01/2009 14:02

Martha Grimes very prolific isn't she?
The titles are familiar too.

plumandolive · 13/01/2009 13:59

Loved it.
I quite liked Little Friend- I think she's good at creating that heavy Southern atmosphere.

and fishie- agre about lovely bones- Donna Tartt puts it in the shade. ( Couldn't see all the fuss over the tim traceller's wife either...)

OOhhh-a am going to find Martha Grimes- I haven't read her- thankyou

fishie · 12/01/2009 22:54

oh yes i loved it.

i am another rare liker of little friend.
i walk past the french one in library every visit (there aren't many french readers in my area) it is called 'le petit copain'.

compare and constrast to 'lovely bones' donna is so much better. would put martha grimes (cold flat junction etc) over either of them for that sort of thing.

Caz10 · 12/01/2009 22:49

LOVED it - and yes it is pretentious, but wonderfully so!!

DLeeds · 12/01/2009 22:46

Absolutely loved Secret History (read in one sitting) loathed The Little Friend. Couldn't believe they had been written by the same person.

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