76: The Secret History, Donna Tartt

Date Finished: 02/01/2011
My Rating: 3.5/5

I always seem to find it easier to write about books that I disliked than those that I enjoyed. I wonder if this is to do with me bitching to everyone I meet about how hard a book that I don't like is, so I have time to formulate my thoughts somewhat before bringing fingers to keyboard. The Secret History is an odd mix for me though. Whilst I thought it was brilliantly written, very engaging and quite an easy read, I once again didn't really like any of the characters in it. Mind you, I'm not entirely convinced that the reader is expected to be sympathetic.

The first sentence of the Prologue lets the reader know what to expect in the book, and I don't mind reproducing it here as it shouldn't be considered a spoiler:
"The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation".
The reader immediately knows, therefore, what is to happen to one of the main characters. Despite this (or in fact because of this), the 'scene setting' part of the story seemed to me to take slightly too long. I didn't find it by any means boring, just frustrating. I wanted to find out the whys and hows and whatnot faster than I could read.

I thought the characters were intriguing. Delicately crafted into personalities that you do come across occasionally, the type of people who think they are above you in some way because of something they do or something they have. In real life it's often due to wealth, and I think for Henry and Francis in the book this rings true, but for all of the characters it is because they are in this 'elite' group, separated from the rest of the student body by their choice of major and by their professor who does seem to nurture this opinion.

I was a little disappointed with the ending, although I'm not sure how else it could have been.

So, who should read this book? This is a pretty universal read I should say, and I think most people would enjoy it. It's not a mystery book. You know who dies and who kills them right from the start. What it is is an excellent story.

Next book: Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding