The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Three months, one classic, one table. That's our Seasonal read.

Some books intimidate. The classics everyone quotes but nobody actually reads, the ones you started twice and put down, the ones you'd never pick up on your own. That's what our Seasonal read is for.

As you might know, in our Monthly reads we ask ourselves of the book is worth a finish. Not in our Seasonals, here we ask a bigger question: is this classic still relevant?

Finishing is not required. Showing up is.

The bookWhat would you give up to belong to something beautiful?

In this dark, dazzling literary thriller by Donna Tartt, Richard joins a small, elite Greek class at Hampden College, led by the charismatic Julian. He's drawn into a tight circle of brilliant, privileged students who believe they're above everything. We learn on page one that one of them is murdered. The rest of the story is how it got that far, and what comes after.

Over 600 pages of beauty, obsession and slow unravelling. Intimidating, yes. Worth it? That's what we'll decide together.

Content warning: this book deals with murder and substance use.

Already underwayThe group kicked off, but you can still join. Pick the ticket that fits you:

Individual read. You'll get a place in our WhatsApp group for the rest of the season & your seat at The Book Review. Consumptions at own cost.

Drag me through it. A place in our WhatsApp group for the rest of the season. Two Reading Raves to read through the difficult chapters together. Your seat at The Book Review. Consumptions at own cost.

Drag & celebrate. A place in our WhatsApp group for the rest of the season. Two Reading Raves to read through the difficult chapters together. Your seat at The Book Review. Your seat at the dinner after the review. Consumptions & dinner at own cost.

Already in the group?

Already started: free, your seat at The Book Review, no dinner.

Club member | Pre-paid package: a drink at the October and November Reading Raves, plus The Book Review and dinner including two drinks.

How the review goesWe walk in, grab a seat and fill in the review document together. Everyone shares what they thought, then we dive into the real talk: a murder confessed on page one, beauty and terror, and who gets to walk away. We close with the verdict, is this classic still relevant? Dinner guests then head to the table, everyone else is free to go.

Good to know

The Book Review is on Sunday 15 November, 17:00

All food and drinks are at your own cost, except what's included in the Pre-paid package.

Every format counts. Paperback, ebook, audiobook, library copy.

Read it in English or Dutch. The talk is usually in English.

Come alone. Almost all of us do, and after a season in the group you're really not new anymore.

See you in the chat, lovely!