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A review by aidualc_clau
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Took me a long time to finish it this one. I really liked it. I was always so surprised by every twist I read, like I didn't know where the plot was going. That being said, I felt that some things fell short in this 600 page Novel. First, Julian needs it to be flesh out more, might spoil,
what do you mean that in the end Richard loved this man like the father he didn't actually have? I understood Henry cause it was stated a few times that they meet quite frequently, but Richard? I would have preferred then more interactions with Julian so this fatherly love wouldn't be out of nowhere. The same thing happened with Henry and Camilla. I felt I didn't receive more hints that they were together, only at the end. I know it's like a big thing, but for me, it was out of the blue.
Henry for me was a very confusing character, cause you are watching how he felt empowered by the things he did but at the end, saying he wanted to live, makes wonder more of him, you know? For me, Richard, comparing it with Nick from The Great Gatsby, he was more real. The same reason both wanted to belong in a more elite group, I felt that Richard had more personality. Like, he had problems of his own, and the people pleaser in him what's the reason he got stuck with them. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book. And I must reread in some other time. 
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