Book 1 had me totally gripped and I loved how the book left me wondering what's going to happen. Book 2, even though well written) just dragged on a bit much. Still I kept reading as I have truly grown close to the Charakters. But I read some comments about poor Bunny but I started snapping my finger cellblock tango style and singing: he had it coming!

Ich bin immer noch nicht über dieses Buch hinweggekommen und es sind mittlerweile Jahre vergangen, seit ich es gelesen habe. Ich werde wahrscheinlich niemals damit aufhören über dieses Buch nachzudenken! Schreibstil: 4/5 Thema: 5/5 Charaktere: 5/5 Pacing: 3,5/5 Besondere Momente: 4,5/5

I'm generally not a fan of the dark Academia genre, but decided to read this book after having it recommended to me on many occasions. To me this read like a cross between The Great Gatsby and Catcher in the Rye. The writing style is phenomenal and the story caught me from the very beginning. There were passages where it felt as if the text was unnecessarily padded out with long-winded excursions into greek philosophy, but it fit the story and made for an entertaining read.

Ich habe nun dieses Buch ein zweites Mal begonnen, nachdem ich es 2023 bereits einmal angefangen hatte. Nun habe ich den Roman beendet und ich muss sagen ich mochte ihn alles in allem sehr gerne. Trotzdem gibt es einige Aspekte der Geschichte, die mich einfach stören. Der Handlung fehlt in einigen Bereichen eine gewisse Spannung und Intensität. Auch die Charaktere waren für mich alle etwas oberflächlich dargestellt. Julian wurde von seinen Schülern so vergöttert und geliebt, jedoch spürt man als Leser diese Magie seines Charakters kaum. Auch Camilla wird bis zum Ende nur aus der idealisierten Perspektive Richards dargestellt. Dabei ist mir bewusst, dass dies natürlich alles Stilmittel sind, die die Autorin bewusst nutzt, jedoch hat mir als Leserin dadurch der allgemeine Bezug zu den Charakteren gefehlt, genauso wie ein tieferer Sinn hinter vielen Oberflächlichkeiten. Trotzdem waren die Charaktere und Geschehnisse, wenn man sie aus einem anderen Blickwinkel betrachtet, komplex und es gab so viele Überraschungen in dem Buch, die mich extrem ergriffen, verwirrt, abgestoßen, jedoch auch begeistert haben.

I might have just gone through a rollercoaster full of unpredictable emotions!! This is Donna Tartts debut novel?? Absolutely beautifully written with such lively descriptions of the sceneries and characters. The amount of tabbing I did while reading this was insane! So many stunning quotes and passages full of captivating lines. I loved how this book is fully plot-driven and so thrillingly set-up. Although I love books with no specific plot line, Donna Tartt ate and

Ich weiß nicht genau, wie ich dieses Buch beschreiben soll. Es löst eine Faszination über die Charakteren aus, die sowohl spannend, absurd, interessant, clever, nachdenklich und absolut größenwahnsinnig sind. Ich glaube an einige Szenen der Geschichte werde ich noch sehr lange denken...

- Ich LIEBE Bücher, die annähernd was mit Latein und so am Hut haben, aber hier hab ich mir echt mehr erhofft - Es gab irgendwie keine spannende story bis auf die letzten 100 Seiten vielleicht und vor allem dafür war das Buch einfach viel zu lang (habe gerade eine Rezi gelesen, die gerade das toll fand, weil man sich dadurch genau wie die mcs fühlt, aber while i definitely see the point, no thanks) - Vom Schreibstil her war es nicht schlecht, aber auch nicht wirklich besonders gut - es gab ein paar schöne Sätze, die man sich auch markieren konnte, aber mehr auch nicht - Wenn man tiefer darüber nachdenkt, gibt es schon ein paar Fragen, die einem in den Kopf kommen und das Buch im Nachhinein spannender machen - finde es aber trotzdem sehr overhyped

Honestly, ‚The Secret History’ is the best book I’ve ever read. The story pulls you in with its unforgettable characters and dark secrets, and it feels so real—like you’re right there with them, experiencing every twist and turn. One of the coolest things about ‚The Secret History‘ is how many layers it has. There are so many little details, references, and hidden meanings that you keep discovering new things even after you’ve finished it. The plot twists hit hard because they unfold so naturally—you don’t always see them coming until it’s too late. And there’s so much left open to interpretation that you could talk about this book forever!! It’s definitely one that sticks with you and makes you want to read it all over again. If you’re looking for a book that sticks with you long after you’ve finished reading, give this one a try. It’s a crazy ride you won’t forget.

5 ⭐️ for me :) I loved this book for the gorgeous writing, particularly the descriptions of the scenery and atmosphere of the college; and also the description of the character’s feelings, impulses and experiences. The story itself is gripping and slightly spooky. It is the kind of book where the characters are not really likeable, but inspire sympathy and affection nonetheless.

Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality they slip gradually from obsession to corruption and betrayal, and at last—inexorably—into evil. Till one of them ends up dead.

You think you understand a book, but then you close it after 600 pages and just sit there in your bed and have to take a moment for yourself. After "If we were villains", this was the next book recommended to me and it also has a literary focus, this time "Greek". It is littered with prose, quotes, Latin, Greek and so many plays that one has to read all the mentioned secondary literature and classics on the side to understand most of the references. That's why in my opinion this is a book for history lovers. The Characters represent different personas fitting a Greek tragedy. All young, way too entitled, from money, either bored, eccentric, or just a bit too obsessed with Greek. From the beginning I was aware the main character/observer, Richard, wasn't a reliable narrator and one can never be sure what has actually happened at that college in Vermont between those six students. All hidden behind mountains of books, cigarette smoke, secrets, drugs and one too many licor bottles. Personally, the story line dragged on after the middle of the book and was just unfolding into the depth of despair each character fell into. But it didn't need 600 pages for one to know that each one of the people involved should have gone to therapy.

I cannot get over this book. I probably won’t, for quite some time. The more time passes after finishing the last page, the more I have to think about it. It’s my vibe and I haven’t read my vibe in a looong time. Really impressed and I don’t even know how to describe it. I love the characters so much. They are so complex and villainous and morally questionable and backstabbing and intelligent and perfect. In the beginning, I was annoyed by the endless descriptions and inner monologues and slow pacing but as the story progressed, I grew really fond of the style. Definitely my favorite read this year. Lacking adequate words. (Also, the audiobook narrated by the author is extremely good, too.)

Dies ist ein Buch, welches man sicher mehr als einmal lesen muss, um alles genauer zu verstehen, genauer hinzusehen, zwischen den Zeilen lesen zu können. Doch auch nach den ersten Mal lesen, kann ich für mich behaupten, ein grandioses Buch gelesen zu haben. Die Geschichte ist unsagbar interessant, genau so die Charaktere - auch wenn man sie nicht ganz leiden mag.

I absolutely loved this book! It certainly is one of my favorites now. With the slow paste of the story you get to know the characters really well. And you start to love them. What stood out to me is that i absolutely forgot that it is a book i was reading, that this is a written story. It felt too real. The dark academia love is real. It is with the hype

I was captivated by the beginning of the story, but it lost its charm in the middle and only regained its appeal towards the end. The other characters were well-written and fascinating, but I wish the story had been told from their perspective instead of being limited to Richard’s point of view. Although I enjoyed reading it, I don’t think I would read it again. Perhaps I would just skim through the most interesting parts. It's worth it to at least read it once. It's beautiful and haunting.

2,5 stars I loved the atmosphere, it reminded me a lot of Dead Poet's Society, which is a movie I really loved. However I got really bored around the middle because it just seemed so repetitive and it got too descriptive for me. Urgh I am just really disappointed IN MYSELF for not loving this. I understand why so many people loved this and like I said, I did enjoy the writing and the atmosphere, but the excitement wore off because this book was just so long. What I hated were those endless long chapters. WHY? This book had like 8 chapters, and I personally hate long chapters xD. Aaaand I don't know why you would call it a thriller. Literally in the first chapter you learn who gets killed by whom and when, and also that the police never figures out who killed them. So yeah that's not really a thriller/murder mystery for me bc there is no mystery. (Und die deutsche Übersetzung war auch sehr seltsam. Security guards = Hausverwaltung?? Fruitcake = meschugge?? Ich musste meschugge erstmal googlen xD)

Hm, irgendwie hat es mich null abgeholt. Hat mich stark an „If we were villains“ von ML Rio erinnert, wobei secret history natürlich älter ist. Aber die Geschichten sind vom Setting und dem Plot schon sehr ähnlich. Das Buch war rundum mittelmäßig wie ich fand. Ich habe weder irgendeine Bindung zu den Charakteren aufgebaut sonst noch in irgendeiner Art und Weise mitgefiebert. Nach der Hälfte wollte ich es einfach nur noch durch haben. Einen richtigen Höhepunkt gab es irgendwie nicht, die Story hätte man auch gut in 350 Seiten erzählen sowie abhandeln können. Mir erschließt sich wirklich nicht der Hype. Einfach nur langweilig gewesen. Man hätte meiner Meinung nach viel mehr draus machen können… Man hat gefühlt nur Drogen und Alkohol abhängigen Jugendlichen dabei zugeschaut, wie sie irrational eine Fehlentscheidung nach der anderen treffen.

I really don’t know about this. But one thing I do know: it was too long. For me there were just too many unnecessary scenes. I could totally see that as intentional, to portrait how the Charakters felt the time (draaaagged). Event though I can see the point in that I really disliked it. Every time I stopped reading I didn’t have the urge to pick the book back up (hence it took me over 2 months to read it). Some parts were very good and I liked the overall plot and how the Charakters were shown. But be the time the big ending came, I just didn’t care. I didn’t care for the Charakters and I didn’t care for the story, so the ending hadn’t had the wished effect on me. It also wasn’t bad and seemed to be researched very good, just not my cup of tea

The story was well thought through and very detailed. My favorite characters were Henry and Camila ( they also seemed like most complex together with Bunny). You must be a very good writer to not bore a reader on 620 pages, even when there is no action going on in the moment. It is worth reading for the experience of Donna Tarts writing and the storyline too.

Absolutely delightful. The characters are all, objectively, flawed (at best) and downright horrible. However, they are so fascinating, mysterious, inscrutable, which is think is because of the narrator. Richard, of course, is unreliable, which he (after getting some clarity in the future) says so himself. It is because most of us couldn't relate to the group of 'mysterious rich kids' (as they had so been viewed in the beginning), and most of us have a life just like Richard. Middle class, having to work for your future... I think that is exactly the reason why I had found myself bound to the characters, just like Richard, even though they are morally extremely detestable. In my experience, I think I have felt the story like I was part of Richard, and I understood *why* he had been so fascinated. The pacing was incredible, the story was such a delight to read, and the characters were so well written, I don't think I can comprehend how Donna had come up with such idea, let alone written it. I am glad she did, though, because this book *finally* takes up the place of being my favorite. Definitely worth more stars, and a re-read.

Ich bin sooo glücklich, dass ich zuerst The Goldfinch von Donna Tartt gelesen habe. Hätte ich dieses Buch zuerst gelesen, hätte ich den Distelfink vielleicht niemals angerührt. Das ist keine schlechte Geschichte und die Schreibweise ist auch einfach wunderschön, detailreich und macht richtig Spaß, aber die Charaktere waren leider null sympathisch...wirklich kein einziger! Der Plot war mir hier manchmal auch etwas zu langatmig und ich habe das nicht so wie beim Goldfinch zelebrieren können. Ich habe das Buch trotzdem gerne gelesen, aber es reiht such nicht unter meinen Highlights ein.