Reactions: Compelled to read on, A page turner
Novel by Donna Tartt

You may recall me gushing over Donna Tartt’s more famous novel The Goldfinch earlier this year (well, except the last 80 pages). The Secret History is an entirely different kind of story, but one that demonstrates Tartt’s remarkable ability across her novels to write such an engaging story that you aren’t able put the book down.

The Secret History revolves around a group of rich college kids in the 1980s who kill their friend. This is not a spoiler because Richard, the narrator, tells us in the very first chapter that the story will be about how they killed their friend Bunny.

What follows is a story of a poor kid trying to fit in with rich kids at college. It takes us through the complicated backstories of each character in the small friend group and their various interpersonal dynamics. We learn about the love affairs (actual and unrequited) and who detests whom.

Then something terrible happens. And Bunny can’t be trusted to keep it a secret. And so the plotting begins. Bunny dies at the half way mark in the book. The final half explores what happens to the ties that bind as they first strengthen and then begin to unravel.

The plot and topic probably aren’t for everyone. But the writing style and the character building is beautiful and compelling. If you loved The Goldfinch, then you absolutely must read The Secret History.