DNF at 20%.

Here we have it: my first DNF of 2019. Normally I try to get to the halfway point before giving up, but it was a struggle to get this far; I wasn’t going to force myself.

Since I didn’t finish reading The Secret History, I’ll keep this review brief. My primary issue with this novel was how unbelievably bored I was while reading. The story read like something I might’ve been assigned in a high school English class and hated for its monotony. I read to page 116, and nothing happened up to that point; that, unfortunately, isn’t an exaggeration. I could skim multiple pages at a time and not miss anything. The extent of the action was the characters getting very drunk multiple times a week. I thought this was a murder mystery, but if it is, the build-up is excruciatingly slow and honestly not worth it.

I didn’t realize while reading that this novel was originally published in 1993; however, I don’t think that’s relevant to my dislike. My all-time favorite series started in 2012 and ended in 2014. Another novel I enjoyed — admittedly, more so when I was younger — is more than fifty years old. Age doesn’t necessarily impact my enjoyment of a story.

The ensemble cast was strange and did somewhat pique my interest, though not enough to keep me reading. Maybe I’d be saying something different if they did more than drink, smoke, and half-heartedly do Greek homework once or twice per chapter.

Needless to say, The Secret History is not the book for me. The density of the writing and monotony of the story overpowered any possible sliver of intrigue I might’ve had. I don’t think I’ll be giving this novel a second chance, or delving into any of Tartt’s other novels.

Representation:
• I think I’ve heard about a queer side couple? I can’t be sure, as there was no indication of it in the chapters I read. Honestly though, if you want queer rep, you can find hundreds of better books to read.

CW: alcoholism, homophobia [through page 116/start of chapter 3]