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[PBR] The Secret History

Blogs > Pholon
Post a Reply
Pholon
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Netherlands6142 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-06-12 17:16:26
June 12 2009 12:12 GMT
#1
[image loading]

Pholon’s Book Reviews - #3
Donna Tartt – The Secret History


I don’t like recent books. They too often are stamped as “literature” just because they become best sellers. Among the popularist ruble that is Dan Brown and J. K . Rowling I can hardly be arsed to find the certain gems that would in turn only disappoint as I can’t imagine them sparking the same reverence I hold Shakespeare, Milton and Homer in. Besides war novels the latest 20th century literature I read would be the dystopian works by Orwell and Huxley. It is therefore with a wary scepticism that I approached Donna Tartt’s 1992’s The Secret History.

That being said, I found this a very excellent read, indeed, worthy of the title ‘literature’. Tartt writes with a good deal of confidence and is flawless in both wording and style. The book centers around “an elite group of clever misfits”. Richard Papen, protagonist, finds himself taking up Greek in college, sharing his class with only 4 others, all of which are intelligent, but eccentric people. After an unfortunate accident a murderous plot evolves.

What appears to be the climax of the book is right in the middle. The first half of the book works up to this pivotal event and I actually cursed when I promised my mates to “go with them after I finish this chapter”. The second half of the book left me in a state of paranoia (main event is past but 300 pages left…what will happen??) and I’ll only say that the final pages do deliver.

A major theme, the grey area between “the greater good” and concepts of ethics and justice, which, re-emerging now in recent media DeathNote, Watchmen and Seven Pounds, remains an interesting theme to think about. Tartt reinstates naturalism and reminds me of Emant’s “A Confession” be it without the alienation reading a 100 year old book creates. She also shows how scary and wrong it is when people alienated form society deem themselves intelligent enough to be making decisions and taking responsibilities, something I find, painfully, all-too-present in modern day politics.

I’m especially interested in what you guys find of this book. Besides the obvious questions of ‘did you like it?’ I’d be curious to know what you think of justice in this book. Additionally, how did you respond to Julian’s reaction? He was a character I distrusted at first, despite Richard’s fondness of him, but now I’ve come to find him despicable at least, spineless and a bit of a git. Anyway, it’s a great book, pick it up if you have the chance.

Pholon’s grade: 8/10

Next up: Joseph Conrad – Heart of Darkness

Issue #1
Issue #2

***
Moderator@TLPholon // "I need a third hand to facepalm right now"
ShaperofDreams
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
Canada2492 Posts
June 12 2009 12:24 GMT
#2
check out The Time Traveler's Wive

It's a bit new age but i really liked it, the themes aren't as strong as 1984 or other novels you mentioned but i still highly recommend it.
Bitches don't know about my overlord. FUCK OFF ALDARIS I HAVE ENOUGH PYLONS. My Balls are as smooth as Eggs.
Empyrean
Profile Blog Joined September 2004
16986 Posts
June 12 2009 12:40 GMT
#3
Is it sad that when I saw the [PBR] tag I thought of Pabst Blue Ribbon?

I don't even drink :O
Moderator
Hittegods
Profile Joined April 2007
Stockholm4640 Posts
June 12 2009 13:55 GMT
#4
The sad thing is that you don't drink.
This neo violence, pure self defiance
arb
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
Noobville17921 Posts
June 12 2009 14:29 GMT
#5
I totally thought this was about professional bull riding ~_~
Artillery spawned from the forges of Hell
Kennelie
Profile Joined December 2007
United States2296 Posts
June 12 2009 14:59 GMT
#6
On June 12 2009 23:29 arb wrote:
I totally thought this was about professional bull riding ~_~


LMFAO I THOUGHT THE SAME THING!
ya had ya shot kid!
Rhaegar99
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
Australia1190 Posts
June 12 2009 15:01 GMT
#7
Lol I thought of Powered By Rice, which was a clan in an mmo I played a while back.
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25980 Posts
June 12 2009 15:09 GMT
#8
I thought this was The Secret, where you can get anything if you believe in it enough.
Moderator
Pholon
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Netherlands6142 Posts
June 12 2009 17:16 GMT
#9
Three issues and people still don't know Y_Y
Moderator@TLPholon // "I need a third hand to facepalm right now"
zulu_nation8
Profile Blog Joined May 2005
China26351 Posts
March 10 2014 11:52 GMT
#10
great book, the love story was especially moving.
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