It’s always an exciting day . . . when Bonny and Carole and I announce the upcoming Read With Us selection!
As we have done for the last couple of years, we chose a “contemporary classic” to read this winter. And by “contemporary classic” we mean a novel that has been fairly recently published (within the last 40 years or so) that garnered positive reviews and attention “back in the day.”
This winter, we invite you to join us in reading . . .
The Secret History by Donna Tartt.
You may be more familiar with Donna Tartt’s most recent novel, The Goldfinch, but let me assure you . . . Tartt’s debut novel – The Secret History – is every bit as well-written and compelling. And it’s also highly discussable and a perfect winter read.
The Secret History is “dark academia” literary fiction with plenty of psychological thrills, suspense, and drama. Maybe, like me, you read this one 30 years ago and only barely recall the plot . . . but know you loved it at the time. Or maybe you never got around to reading it back when it was “new” (like Ann Patchett says, “if you haven’t read it yet, it’s new-to you!”) Regardless how you get here, we hope you’ll Read With Us
“[The Secret History is] a long tale of friendship, arrogance, and murder knit together with the finesse that many writers will never have . . . Her writing bewitches us . . . The Secret History is a wonderfully beguiling book, a journey backward to the fierce and heady friendships of our school days, when all of us believed in our power to conjure up divinity and to be forgiven any sin.”
—The Philadelphia Inquirer
Bonny and Carole and I will be talking more about the book and providing additional background information for you in blog posts next month. Then . . . mark your calendars for our blog book discussions/Zoom discussion on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 (7:00 pm Eastern time).
Please be sure to visit the updated Read With Us resource page for more information about the book and all the details you’ll need to join our discussion. You can find story summaries, character listings, author information, and links to reviews and interviews.
We hope you’ll be as excited as we are to dig into The Secret History.
C’mon along!
Grab a cup of tea, find yourself a comfy chair . . . and Read With Us this winter!
I read it the first time well after it was published (I won’t tell you how old I was when it came out; suffice it to say I was not old/mature enough to deal with the subject matter), but I am excited to reread it with all of you.
I never did read it back in the day, so I am looking forward to this “new” (for me) book!
A most excellent book club book, if there ever was one!! I picked up a copy from the library over the weekend and am eager to settle into today as I play “nursemaid” to poor Frankie! (hint… a cone and knitting are not the best pals… the cone is a velcro-wonder… so Frankie is “sticking to everything”)
I’m very much looking forward to a re-read and our discussion!
I read this book many years ago, and I remember I liked it, but I don’t remember many details. It will be fun to revisit it. Thanks for the needed diversion, Kym.
I remember nothing about this book other my impression that I loved it!
This is simply one of my top five books of all time! I just reread over Christmas, and I’m excited that others will have the opportunity to enjoy it too!