The Secret History opens Goodreads in a new tab

My thoughts

“Beauty is terror. Whatever we call beautiful, we quiver before it.” Can't believe I have another 5star already but this book was probably the best decision this year. You either end up hating it or loving it wayyy too much, I for one am in the later category. For starters, if you read a book only if they have "likeable" characters, don't try this. All the characters here are bad, they are simply self-centered or benign or sociopaths or a thousand other wrong things but the beauty of the writing is that I AM STILL SYMPATHETIC towards them, I actually like them care for them and want to know what happens to them: THAT IS THE REAL CHARM. Again if you're looking for a murder mystery: NO. It's literally so clear from the beginning what's happened and who did it. It's more about the anticipation/character's reactions to it and the aftermath. This book reminded me so much of [b:A Little Life|22822858|A Little Life|Hanya Yanagihara|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1446469353l/22822858._SY75_.jpg|42375710] it made me feel so much for the characters and I loved it so so much. “Does such a thing as 'the fatal flaw,' that showy dark crack running down the middle of a life, exist outside literature? I used to think it didn't. Now I think it does. And I think that mine is this: a morbid longing for the picturesque at all costs. This is a bizarre yet very likeable mix of the supernatural, all sorts of human emotions, the very real portrayal of all things people do to save their own ass, to a whole experience of caring about morally grey-extremely horrible people. This book is not a speed read, it's not something you finish asap for the story to end to know what happens in the end, cous nothing really does: you already know the big revelation in the prologue. You have to cherish this book. To grasp each and every emotion of every character. Every turmoil, every step speaks volumes. It's a whole experience you have to enjoy slow and nice. Content/Trigger warnings in the book for: slut shaming, use of the R word, homophobia, hate speech, fatphobic comments, racist comments, animal cruelty, sexual assault, incest, performing rituals, suicide, alcoholism, drug abuse, and murder. tl,dr: it was my first Tartt book and i freaking loved it, I'm def reading more by the author. But how,” said Charles, who was close to tears, “how can you possibly justify cold-blooded murder?’ Henry lit a cigarette. “I prefer to think of it,” he had said, “as redistribution of matter.