sam’s Reviews > The Secret History > Status Update

“… was disheartened to find it entirely bereft of lurid detail.” perhaps, akin to tartt recognizing readers would want *more* from TSH as a thriller. the first time i read this i found the first half perfection and the second half lacking. on a reread, the dramatics, humor and metaphors are everything in book ii. tartt is incredibly smart and incredibly cheeky. simply nobody is comparable to mother (donna).

“why, if all people, had they chosen to tell me?” because you’re a weak simp, richard. it’s really all so direct and clear :/

"after all, the appeal to stop being yourself, even for a little while, is very great... to escape the cognitive mode of experience, to transcend the accident of one's moment of being"

a bar!!! (but also you murdered someone bby)

richard, completely unprovoked, going into a multipage monologue that everyone must be fruity is so real actually

chapter 3 has always been one of my favorite (and the most memorable) chapter of TSH for me. the gold standard for creating an atmospheric, immersive and dread filled environment that lasts far too long and yet not long enough. on a reread everything is even more dreamlike and hazy. metaphors more direct. characters more straightforward. themes even more fun to shift though <3

i forgot how God tier the prose is. i might reread again in nov/dec.