(potentially) unpopular opinion: i know i’m only 1/3 of the way through, but so far i think the secret history is the lesser donna tartt novel. the goldfinch owned my ass hook line and sinker at this point, but i’m kind of struggling to get invested in the secret history. i love the settings and characters and donna tartt’s control over language is, of course, impeccable, but i am often confused and feel like im missing something while reading this book. i’m hoping (and, tbh, kind of expecting) that it all clears up by the end bc i’ve known about this book for ages, like, i have distinct memories of countless teachers and aunts and uncles when i was 9 or 10, maybe younger, gushing about this book to each other– so i’m expecting that she’s saving her punches for the end. 

but yeah, tldr i love the goldfinch, and the secret history isn’t really living up to that (yet!!!)