This is a favorite re-read, great when new library books disappoint etc. (if I could only take 3 books on vacation with me, this would be one of them). Wonderfully written first novel with strong characters and plotting. I am glad no attempt has been made to adapt this for the screen (yet), because there is not a single actor I can think of who could play Henry. Not the way I picture him. ( )

As I am not particularly an 'academic', few books make me think about certain themes, and meanings behind what normally I might consider mundane aspects to a book. This though, was one of those books that had me thinking throughout it, which of course I like, because it makes me feel like I might contain above average intelligence! :)

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, even though the prologue (don't skip it!) tells you what the climax of the novel is going to be, you still find yourself wondering, is that what's going to happen? Really?! No, they wouldn't! The relationships between the characters are odd, endearing and down right creepy.

Throughout the novel there really isn't any mention for what period of time this story is taking place in except for one offhand remark. Dr. Roland (Richard's boss) says that he drives a 10-year old '98 Buick - which says 2008! Yes Emily you have figured it out. This is the one thing that really bothered me though because Tartt makes many references to pop culture, for example...

- Judy Poovey says that she is out of shape and needs to start doing her Jane Fonda again
- While Richard and either Charles or Francis are at the bar they are watching 'Sally Jesse Raphael' - which made me laugh

These are minor glitches but they really stuck out to me, maybe because when this book was written I was in second grade?

The names of the six main characters I found interesting as they are all names of royalty... Henry, Charles, Camilla, Francis, Richard, except for the outcast of the group, Bunny. Charles and Camilla are twins that have an underlying sexual tension (this was the creepy part), I don't know if they were named intentionally or if it is just a coincidence, either way, nice work. I also made the royalty connection as it seems as though the characters view themselves as above the law, they don't seem to think that their actions should have any legal implications, or if they do, that they will never be found out.

Well, that is just my two cents. This book was a really quick read for being over 500 pages long, and very different from anything else I have read. Now I' wondering if I should go pick up Tartt's second novel, The Little Friend though I have heard that it is nowhere near as good as her first. ( )

I saw this referenced as one of many people's favorite books on a message board. I started it and had trouble making myself finish it. It was predictable and none of the characters were likeable or intriquing. I couldn't care about any of them, what they did or what happened to them. ( )

I read this for my book club.

A bunch of students at some tiny college in the middle of nowhere (somewhere in the USA) all study ancient Greek and are cliquey to a quite ridiculous (although believable) level. The narrator is a student from a much less monied background from the rest, but manages to join them. And... they kill someone.

You know who they kill and when right from the beginning, but finding out why and what lead them to it is still a compelling reason to keep reading. The atmosphere of the book felt very realistic, and you could even sort of sympathise with the characters despite their acts.

SPOILERS: Once the murder has taken place the book continues for a while, showing you how it affected them. In itself this was a good idea, but I felt it continued on too long, and I could really have done without the whole incest subplot. ( )

This novel was a great read. It's not the greatest novel ever written, and I don't think it tries to be. I really enjoyed reading this book but I think it had a few hiccups and slow points (it would have been nice if it had been a little more plot driven).

The approach of telling the reader about the murder and who committed such a horrendous act right from the start and its subsequent fall out was a unique angle that was a nice switch from the typical suspense novel. The pretentious nature of this book and its characters is hard to overlook. I found it amazing that a character driven novel could have so many despicable characters and still be enjoyable. I find it hard to imagine a bigger collection of snobs and shallow people. Hampden college certainly plays into ever stereotype of a rich, private Liberals arts college imaginable. I think this hurt the book in the end, but allowed the despicable traits to flourish in such an environment. In any other setting this novel wouldn’t work. In the end snobbish intellectuals with no redeeming value, in a college where nothing but money and position matter, something like a petty murder or two and its subsequent cover up fits.

Now the hiccups, one the more persistent problems for me was establishing a consistent time period. Cultural events seemed to place it in the early 90’s or late 80’s. But the students dress and actions, like listening to music that their parents listened to, the lack of television, or recreation doesn’t seem to fit college students in the early 90’s. Then there’s the rampant drug and alcohol use, being so intoxicated on such a regular basis makes it hard to believe that any coherent plan to cover up or plan a murder is even possible. I also found the homosexual and incestral undertones a bit hard to accept. Maybe its apart of the whole ancient Greek emersion and fit the tragic Greek comedy theme, but still I found it to be a little to overt and over the top. The last annoyance was the frequent injection of foreign languages instead of English. Most of the time it was pretty easy to get at what she was trying to say but at times she was inconsistent and at times left me scratching my head at key points in the story.

I know this review isn’t exactly glowing, it really was a good read. In the end I guess I really don’t know what to say or feel about this book. ( )