The Secret History, Donna Tartt BOOK REVIEW

[@donnaaldridge3683]

My all time favourite. Years later I'm still haunted by it ...and find myself searching for anything comparable

[@RyanRabid]

You’re not alone. Such an incomparable reading experience

[@esterhudson5104]

Donna Aldridge double that.👍

[@redastair]

Tana French: The Searcher. It only turned up from a pre-order on Kindle today and haven’t started to read it. But I’ve other of her works and she’s a writer (I think) with a style similar to Tartt. There are direct comparisons on the blurb to TSH.

[@mirembelb]

I totally agree with that passerby 😂 That book did screw me up😢 almost gave me a panic attack... The most terrifying thing was that the book shows you how easy it is to develop murderous intentions...no body goes around believing that they could ever kill someone but this book showed me that murderers are everyday people like myself 😶

[@madelinevlogs5898]

I finished this book a few months ago but I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s definitely in my top 5 all time favorites. The characters are so interesting and I love how she describes the setting. It makes you feel like you’re in their world.

[@macy.r8]

Aaaah I'm obsessed with this book. It's been months since I last read it, but Henry still scares (and amuses) the shit out of me. Love him.

[@frostkiss2]

I'm so strangely attracted to this fictional character 😰

[@macy.r8]

@@frostkiss2 haha I totally get you. It has been years and it’s still my fav book! Weirdly enough.. no book ive read since has kept me as interested as TSH.

[@madelinevlogs5898]

@@frostkiss2 same I love his character a lot

[@donlevy8960]

I loved that book. It was one of the type of books I could not put down. I thought it was brilliant.

[@RyanRabid]

you and I are in stark agreement then :) I burned through it. If only she wrote more novels!

[@marirandall8559]

I cried for the entire last 100, or so, pages of the book. It was incredible (the book, not the crying).

[@RyanRabid]

those are the reactions that are the best :)

[@lupo-femme]

Crying is great, who doesn't love it?

[@CeeBee781]

I also went to a tiny little college in VT and I loved Tartt’s painting that nostalgic picture. I recognized that town.

[@CeeBee781]

It’s rare to find a book so literary, yet so entertaining. It’s an absolute favorite of mine. Just lent it to my sister and she can’t put it down. Wanted to see a review!

[@mishalimpossible4657]

THE BOOK HAUNTED ME FOR LIKE 2 DAYS OMG

[@amanwhomakesmusiclike]

You're SUCH a great reviewer, Ryan. You ask all the important questions. I don't know what else to say (except, I love the book - it's one of my favorites), you're just a great reviewer and I wanted to tell you. I really enjoy the content you create. So, yeah, keep up the good work!

[@RyanRabid]

Such a good book, right?!?! God, it had me turning pages. (this comment means the world to me, thank you for stopping by)

[@marlaluna1926]

I could not put It down, mainly because of the plot. Still, the one that I absolutely adored, admires was The GOLDFINCH, and not because of the plot but because of the writing, a true masterpiece. I am now reading The Little Friend and I wish Donna Tartt to release another book. Yes, I would just run ti but It. She Is unique, however, so far, The GOLDFINCH Is my favourite.

[@hana_skywalker]

The Goldfinch is one of my all-time favorites, too. It's so, so good! That's why I'm thinking of reading more books by Donna Tartt.

[@Panda-pl7kx]

I picked up TSH when I was visiting my aunt a few years ago. I could not put it down. Last year I read it again and the book still managed to surprise me. Great review!

[@carissamk1]

Thanks! Time to pick this up now. After seeing your review on 'The Grapes of Wrath' I finally read it and loved it! So I will probably love this as well. It has always been intriguing to me.

[@RyanRabid]

ahhhhh that's so cool to hear!! :) thanks for tuning in. (I sound like a radio personality lol)

[@bkwmwc]

I read this book when it was first published and was/am one of an undoubted minority who didn’t feel all that positively. I neither liked nor disliked it. Since it was so long ago (I have a first edition hardback), I’m sorry I can’t go into any specifics. As a result of not enjoying it more than I did, I passed completely on her second book and hesitated on GOLDFINCH. I did finally read that one late last year and was overwhelmed-perhaps being my favorite book I read in 2017. Maybe I need to go back and reread SECRET HISTORY..... By the way, love your vids.

[@awesomeness860]

THANK YOU. This book has been sitting on my shelf for about 3 years now. I shall read it this minute.

[@RyanRabid]

16 hours later, I hope you finished it ;)

[@Ed-lz4jv]

Just finished this book, never heard of Donna Tartt till I saw her books in B&N's....Absolutely LOVE this book , her writing style makes you feel it. ... I soon will be reading A LITTLE LIFE.

[@Ed-lz4jv]

"make you wish there where 500 more pages" I quote you OP and agree.

[@rempanda]

Ryan: Your bookstore would love to see you. It's been too long. Me: Holy crap, he's right. I should go there. Tomorrow. As soon as it opens. Logical boring brain: You were there 4 days ago... Me: :O that's like FOREVER!! I read this a few years ago for the first time and I seriously still think I have a slight book hangover from it. I have never found any book that I crave more than this one. Also, this is the book that made me want to explore philosophy more and I'm now studying it at uni :)

[@allystanford2376]

i just picked it up a day ago not knowing anything about it & im halfway through it. crazy to think this many years later that it’s still popular & relevant!

[@OldBluesChapterandVerse]

I read it late last year and loved it, for the most part. Admittedly, I find your comparison of her prose style to 19th-century fiction in general and to Dickens in particular quite jarring. I don’t see that in the least. Her style felt very much mid-20th-century to me. Still, glad you liked it so well.

[@thisisyrrobotfriend]

The key but... Lol. I am reading this book right now. Like you I am finding it such a great representation of my liberal arts college experience. I mean minus the whole murder/intrigue thing. I'm so excited to find out what you mean when you say the "it" keeps changing. Great review!

[@RyanRabid]

I had heard that you were reading it :) I'm interested to see what you think! Yeah, I was just nodding along at so many of the classics descriptions or the descriptions of how small college administrations work lol.

[@madelinevlogs5898]

That makes me excited to start at my liberal arts college this fall!

[@katevalentine7075]

I also love her narration of True Grit .It is my go to for night time listening She paints a portate of every character and scene

[@jonathans7302]

Can you review the Goldfinch? :)

[@sicco5]

After finishing secret history read Bret Easton Ellis’ Rules of attraction right after for desert. It’s a book universe

[@justnicolevlogs8292]

The uncanny resemblance that he have with frank randall/Captain black jack randall in the Outlander series. O_O

[@deirdre108]

The manifesto of the "Dark Academia" meme.

[@normbabbitt4325]

I love the book! Thanks for your excellent review!

[@RyanRabid]

thanks for the excellent comment !

[@hay_bail1]

Love this review! You know how to engage your audience.

[@babyboy1971]

The Goldfinch is one of my all time favorite books. Should I read the secret history next?

[@mai-ee1vg]

YES!!!!!!!!!! I can't recommend this book enough - if you liked The Goldfinch, definitely read The Secret History.

[@babyboy1971]

@@mai-ee1vg I’ll definitely check it out, I’m curious also about the audible version because she reads it and I love the sound of her voice. This will definitely be on my next to read list. Thank you for recommending it.

[@mai-ee1vg]

@@babyboy1971 of course!! please let me know what you think of the book once you've read it, i'd love to hear what you thought about it :)

[@bailey9947]

I'm about a third of the way through it and I LOVE it so far

[@ms.rottenstrawberry1018]

Donna Tartt is my favorite author, and I think The Secret History is one of my favorite books.

[@pamelagrant2960]

I can relate I attended very small liberal arts college in Virginia for two years, in the eighties.

[@nowheregirl921]

Loved your review! You rock!

[@ToddsBookTube91]

Nice review!

[@alltheshelves9142]

Now I want to think about which book represents my college experience most accurately.... The book The Brothers K captures some of the religious fanaticism for sure, but isn't a college setting! So you've given me something to think about.... But I know that's not the point to your review! I love your description of Donna Tartt leaving craters in the publishing world. Such an elegant way of describing part of her mysterious appeal. I like how focused and well-organized your review videos are. As a writing teacher, I always like a video with a clear thesis! :)

[@RyanRabid]

Honestly I read The Art Of Fielding two summers ago every afternoon laying in the grass on the main mall of my college, and the two campuses are nearly identical.. so maybe nothing will top that for me. But The Secret History certainly captures a certain portion of the student and faculty body for me :) and ohhhhh man... I think you and I could have some intriguing religious fanaticism talks :) (we really did get off track, didn't we? Thank you!)

[@alltheshelves9142]

I haven't read The Art of Fielding yet, but it's on my shelves...staring at me. :) I would LOVE to talk religious fanaticism with you! It's such a personal, infuriating topic for me! I could go on for days.

[@RyanRabid]

same, honestly. It's a topic that has frustrated me endlessly... although actually "endlessly" isn't fair because very recently I've seen a lot of the people close to me kind of come to their senses, so maybe an end of sorts is in sight lol? Hopefully?

[@RealGlowup]

Damn! Great review. I'm on board!

[@RyanRabid]

good to hear :)

[@ThePerksOfBooks]

Ah yes, another review from Ryan... which means another book I instantly add to my tbr. I haven't read any Donna Tartt, I must fix that.

[@RyanRabid]

either this or The Goldfinch are fun as hell :) I'd recommend either one, honestly! (or both)

[@susiemurray8599]

and then there's me who can't physically go anywhere without a book. I went to a club with my friends and brought a book. bearing in mind that it was the 1943 print of The Works of Oscar Wilde so it was hella heavy.

[@electrical58]

it would have been wiser to put down that heavy book given the amount of reading you could do vs effort it took you to carry it around, to and fro the club and esp when you were gone to be with your friends.

[@JosephQuinton]

You've convinced me; I shall be being this one.

[@RyanRabid]

that's what I like to hear :)

[@user-gg2sg58jl58l]

ily do you have another channel

[@bighardbooks770]

Thx for this ... TBR

[@Maddie-ol5oc]

Honestly, I really just wanted Francis and Richard to end up together.

[@romulomatos2282]

uma vibe Sessão da Tarde 😂

[@BridgeFour05]

Sold and subscribed. Just ordered the book. :))

[@johnsieber4403]

You went to Wabash!? :) Off topic, but whatever lol

[@neilholland4602]

I liked most of it but there was a bit too much "Let me shoehorn everything I learned in college into this novel to show how well educated I am" on her part. Still a legitimately great writer, however.

[@negoro2006]

I miss you ((

[@tiffytattoo2450]

My only negative critique: don't read it if you're a recovering alcoholic or cigarette addict. My god, what amounts of drinks and smokes were consumed in this book =D

[@gsboss]

im big on music, so it irked me when you said you brought a book with you

[@thecourrrr]

ha same but I read a book through an entire MLB game so I can't judge.

[@RyanRabid]

only for the wait before the music started, don't worry :)

[@RyanRabid]

but during a BASEBALL GAME?!?! Oh hell no that ain't cool ;)

[@thecourrrr]

+ForTheLoveOfRyan even when it was a game between Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh pirates, haha

[@Ed-lz4jv]

Steven King and avid REDSOX fan, is often seen in the stands WRITING during the game!

[@gmotionedc5412]

I don’t know man I’m not intrigued by the plot. Not a murder mystery guy. More of a autobiography, horror, sci-fi guy.

[@apope06]

I learned nothing here of substance.

[@apope06]

Why would you read a book at a concert?

[@lmjones7716]

Maybe he wanted to impress "chicks"'. I'm guessing it didn't work.

[@lailarose4418]

I didnt love this book. I liked reading it but the story is just not good.

[@Blueblackngold]

Crap book

[@danielstermole1234]

This book is mediocre at best. If you want to read some books with real depth seek out Umberto Eco or Cormac McCarthy...