Book Smart Kate

Book: 🌟🌟🌟

Spice: N/A

by Donna Tartt

My experience reading and listening to The Secret History was a study of contradictions. Was I mesmerized by the story? Yes. Was I also exhausted by it? Yes. Was I pulled into the actions of the characters? Yes. Did I think they were all horrible people? Yes. Was the book beautifully written? Yes. Could it have been written with half the words and storylines? Absolutely.

The Secret History is a unique tale, narrated in retrospect by Richard, one of the six main characters. It unfolds at a prestigious New England liberal arts school, where Richard and his peers, all but him born into privilege, navigate college life. Their pursuit of ancient truths through a haze of indulgence leads to life-altering choices, mirroring the Greek tragedies they study. This narrative style, combined with the setting in the late 1980s, offers a captivating journey into a bygone era devoid of cell phones, Uber, GrubHub, texts, and computers.

This is a story of excess, hedonism, and elitism with little regard for the consequences or morality of their actions. Although told solely through the eyes of Richard, his observations and stories bring his friends and professors to life. Set in the late 1980s, it sometimes felt like a throwback to even earlier decades. It was an exciting trip down memory lane without cell phones, Uber, texting, DoorDash, and the convenience lifestyle to which we’ve become accustomed.

From a book perspective, I bounced between a physical copy and an audiobook. The author reads the audiobook, and as much as it is interesting, I’d recommend reading rather than listening. I didn’t feel like the narration lent the intensity and gravity to some of the more chilling events of the book. I’d recommend a digital copy because the physical copy I have has a very densely set typeface that made it more difficult for me to read.

This was the March read for the New Girls book club, and, as always, the discussion has been so much fun.