The Secret History

You know who my favorite character is? Judy Poovey.

I honestly don't even know how to review this. Am I missing something? This is a classic. Shouldn't this have blown my mind?
It didn't. I was kinda underwhelmed honestly.
I loved The Goldfinch, couldn't appreciate this one.
Let's just say this is not what I look for in a book.

- Was it just me or doesn't anyone have a personality? Bland. If they were a spice they would be flour. Is this the commentary on the elite? I get it. Does it make for engaging reading? For me, no.
All the males were interchangeable to me.
Especially Charles and Francis.
- Tweed jackets. Pince nez. Amish looking gardening clothes. Chain smoking. Alcoholics. Substance abuse. Murder. People saying “I say, old sport” like it's the roaring twenties.
- The big thing that happens is explained on the first pages. Yes it's murder. I would be shocked but everyone was so blasé about it that I had a hard time understanding what the point is of me reading these 600 pages.
- There is another murder. They hint at something supernatural. But really these assholes were just full of themselves and full of narcotics for sure. It may come as a shocker but everyone is blasé about this murder too.
- At some point the characters are talking about loving each other. Really? Could've fooled me. Did not get that feeling at all. I found it kind of mind boggling that they hung out in the first place.
- Julian. I thought he would be this driving force. The puppeteer. Yoda and evil mastermind all rolled into one. I am reading he made such an impact on their lives, because Tartt literally writes it does. But he doesn't really do anything substantial in the book that would make me believe so.
- Could've sworn they were all going to set Richard up for everything. But no.
Richard the narrator narrates this whole long ass story. Because he wants redemption? Is there a moral to this story? Is he in jail? On his deathbed. No. Who knows. He is just boring whomever (us) he is confiding in just for the hell of it or something? What is the point??
- Where is this character development I have been reading about? Is it that they go from pretentious and obnoxious to delusional and miserable assholes? By those standards this book succeeded gloriously.