This is one of my favorite books EVER. I was a Classics major and just fell in love with the tight knit group and the intrigue. Fantastic writing! ( )

Lost interest at 11%. Boring.

I took off a star simply because I hate Richard Papen so much, but this was an incredible book to sift through.

The world of "dark academia" is divisive and it's an either "you love it" or "you hate it" area, and I've found that it centers on how well people can put up with pretentiousness. The Secret History works as a sort of satire in this respect, where the prose is beautiful and flowery whereas the characters are unhinged, dumb as fuck, and absolutely ridiculous. The juxtaposition of Richard analyzing the morality of committing murder while he snorts c*caine in a Burger King parking lot and pretends that he's better than anyone else at his preppy college is laughable. His only qualm with his friends holding a bacchanal and getting into horrible trouble is that they didn't invite him too.

It's kind of what I love about this genre. Academia is often an isolating and gate-keeping world, and to see it presented in such glowing terms while also revealing how absurd the reality is keeps me thoroughly entertained.

Also, Judy Poovy supremacy. She is the best character. ( )

Goo book. Dragged for a bit. 4th 5th drags a bit but very well written and smart - jag ( )

ancient Greek studies students in Vermont-- a modern day Greek tragedy