The Secret History

This book has become such a classic, and has many great qualities to recommend it, which other people have written about better than I could. I'm glad I read it–especially since I often end up reading books that are marketed as “for fans of the Secret History” or “Secret History crossed with _____.” However, it feels like it's missing heart–I think this is what kept me from feeling fully connected to the story, which is also how I felt reading The Goldfinch. I think that I would have looked past this if I were in college... the characters are earnestly and insufferably pretentious, which is perfect, since they are, in fact, undergrads! It does a great job capturing the feeling of entering college and trying to keep up with these new kinds of people you meet who seem endlessly cool and interesting. I recommend it to my younger self. But ten years later, it's too much.