The Secret History - Donna Tartt

Call be a basic reader, but this was one of my favorite reads of all time. The Secret History by Donna Tartt got me back into reading as a college student in the fall of 2019. I remember so much about where I was when reading this book. It paints a vivid picture in every scene, and makes you think about the repercussions of every decision you make. There’s nothing I’ve read before of since that made me uncomfortable in such a strangely revisit-able way.

The story follows an elite group of classics students known for their old-fashioned antics at their Vermont college in the 1980’s. When Richard, a transfer student, seeks admission to their program with an elusive professor, he learns that he may have gotten himself wrapped up into something more dangerous than he imagined.

This story is complex and thought provoking to the bitter end. If you can get through the build-up at the beginning, the ending pays off more than you can imagine. 9/10.