Usually I enjoy the author reading their work but

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Usually I enjoy the author reading their work but it makes the characters seem more feminine than male making it distracting when the main character is male and so are Usually I enjoy the author reading their work but in this case all except for the minor female presence in the story. the story was entertaining but a bit long for a fairly simple developments with no mallor twists.feme

What three words best describe Donna Tartt’s voice?

feminine, soft, pleasant

Was The Secret History worth the listening time?

yes

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4 people found this helpful

Twists and turns to keep you hooked!

Loved the constant intrigue of the plot line. Never a dull moment!
I was initially concerned that the book would alienate me (having no knowledge of classics) but infrequent references were explained, and added an interesting theme to the novel.
Dark and complex characters and juicy drama made many hours commuting in the car enjoyable!

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2 people found this helpful

Folly of Youth

What made the experience of listening to The Secret History the most enjoyable?

The book is a long read, so to be able to listen to it in audio makes it easier to enjoy the book for a second and third time: its writing style and the detail it takes to tell the story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Henry is the most talented of the six students, somewhat of a tragic hero and the leader of the group. As such he is the most intriguing character. However, perhaps not truly appealing. Henry is seen through the viewpoint of the initially over-impressed narrator Richard Papen and so the story acts as a warning to resist superficial attractions and the appeal of those who seem to shine above the rest.

What about Donna Tartt’s performance did you like?

The energy, the focus, the precision of the expression, bringing the book to life. Because she is the author Donna Tartt is able to give the story full expression, using irony and emphasis in her reading which another performer might not allow themselves.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The story is distanced, ironic and amusing, but it builds to a tragedy as the superficiality of the characters is eroded by moral weight. A rich experience.

Any additional comments?

Once you've read or listened to the novel there's no need to start again from the beginning and its possible to dip in and enjoy different elements. Coming back to the same moments having a full understanding of the story makes Richard Papen's folly more touching and the failings of the characters more resonant. One despises the narcissism and snobbery of characters and at the same time its possible to empathize with their youth and the pretensions of those who wish to be special.

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1 person found this helpful

Highly recommended!

I loved this book when I first read it years ago and I loved this audiobook version second time round. It has a great narration, I thought that Tartt embodied each character brilliantly and she made the lengthy story easy to follow. I love hearing stories the way the author wrote and understands them - it's like a 'definitive version', which you can't get from a voice actor or your own internal voice. This book, in my view, deserves to be absorbed in all three voices (I would definitely buy a 'professionally narrated' version too!!). The only slight negative was the German and French pronunciation - I found that a little painful.

Overall, if you like well written and absorbing stories that make you think and keep you guessing, this is a great choice. Highly recommended!

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1 person found this helpful

Masterful book and great recording

This is one of the greatest books written in the last 50 years. I read it over ten years ago and I remember being gutted to finish it. I had the same feeling after listening to this recording, just the huge sense of loss that these characters would no longer be part of my life. I cannot tell you how much I miss Henry!

It's good having Donna Tartt reading it because she's the only one who knows the nuances of what she intended, just like Beethoven conducting his own symphonies, it's the definitive version for everyone else to work from (had there been a recording, in his case). However I found it very difficult a female voice reading a male first-person account, it took me a long time to adjust. Her accent took some getting used to, and she doesn't have the voice range of a professional narrator. I did love her Julian voice, but her Bunny and Frances seem to merge together on occasion. The other characters do not really have their own voices, except maybe Cloke.

Make no mistake though this is a brilliant addition to the book and well worth listening through as Donna Tartt publishes so little you have to make the most of what there is.

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1 person found this helpful

more suited for young adults

I think the story is more suited for young adults, who can enjoy the story for what it is - melodramatic. It reminded me very much of the book/film The Rules of Attraction as well as Cruel Intentions - a bunch of rich, selfish and destructive characters that are easy to imagine living in their own delusional world.

Saying that - I enjoyed the audibook very much. Donna Tartt does a good job of setting the stage for her Greek tragedy and the plot drew me in.

Eventually, Donna Tartt's flat, southern accent became part of the story for me. I mean, the voice of Bunny is absolutely fantastic! And the flatness in her voice intensifies the slow burn of the story, as well as the despondence of Richard (the main character).

Perhaps if you're really looking for a Greek tragedy and have a vested interest in the classics, this book isn't for you.

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1 person found this helpful

Icon

If like me you found out about The Secret History through TikTok and then fell in love with the icon Donna Tartt this audiobook is for you. Read by the author it’s a rare and wonderful look into the characters as they sounded in the authors eye. The audio was obviously recorded a long time ago which gives it a vintage retro feel like nothing I’ve heard before. I loved the story, loved the reading. Worth the credit and more!

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1 person found this helpful

Long winded

Long winded story which lacked a punchy end. Some books just don't click and this was one for me.
Narration not the best, by the author.
Don't think I'll be reading /listening to this one again... Sorry

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Great book, bad read

What did you like most about The Secret History?

It's a beautiful book, wonderfully constructed. Very interesting characterwise.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Donna Tartt?

A man! Since the narrator is a man. Or at least someone with better reading skills. She is a great author, but this was a mistake... She does not have good reading skills. Flat voice, flat sentences, minor variations between the characters.

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Great book better on paper

Would you consider the audio edition of The Secret History to be better than the print version?

Absolutely not!

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Donna Tartt's delivery was done in a really quite affected manner which was irritatingly distracting at times - almost as though she was at many points bored reading her own book yet strangely proud of the fact. Her Bunny voice was really odd and caricature-like. This is a great novel which I had already read in print and thought it was a no-brainer I would love to listen to it some years later - mistake. Tartt is a great novelist. She is a lousy narrator.

Any additional comments?

Read it, read it, read it - don't listen to it :)

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