4 / 4.5

Is it possible to be contrived and pretentious in a good way? Because that is how I feel about this book. It is elitist and pompous (the story and style), but I LOVED it. I will say, it does feel longer than it actually is (and it is already a chunk of a novel), but again, in a good way. The story just keeps unraveling, just when you think you have reached the main climax or conflict, you realize your are only a quarter/half/etc way through. Which is delightful when reading something you love – like finding one last chip in a bag you thought was finished!!!

I will say, despite some of the amazingly detailed reviews for this book, that I think it is better to go in with as little knowledge as possible. I knew, going in, that it was set in collage and centered around a small group of students… and assumed shenanigans would unfold…. And boy did they. Shenanigans and hijinks. But I am glad I went in with such little knowledge. It allowed me to get suck into the prose without being bogged down with trying to predict or guess at twists or plot points, and to let the story unfold as intended.

It is amazingly atmospheric and morose, and I feel like the characters balance intellectualism with naivety beautifully.

Spoiler

What I loved was the unspoken implications regarding Julian, the professor. Tartt allowed for speculation regarding his involvement/encouragement of the atrocities preformed by the students. He isolated them, shaped their way of thinking and left breadcrumbs (or perhaps even more for Henry) for them to follow down a horrific path. And then could wipe his hands of it completely. His arc was so discreet and quiet and for a lot of the novel his contribution to the narrative felt hollow… but when you sit with it, everything gets traced back to him, his ideas and ideals, and how he essentially groomed a group of people at the height of their venerability. That is what keeps me continuously thinking about this well after I put it down!