I’m told this novel is loathed by many and loved by many more. Is it wishy-washy to fall squarely in the middle of that range? The story: classics students at a New England college immerse themselves so deeply in their studies that a bacchanalia inevitably goes overboard, ending their little undergrad experiment in group solipsism. The event launches them on a path toward tragic behavior and slow unraveling.
The storytelling keeps you flipping pages and worrying, but for all of the high-minded themes, the ultimate moral thrust is unsatisfying. There’s also a problem of authorial indulgence. If you can get through the first 80 pages, which are basically Ancient Greek Studies 101, you’ll probably enjoy these characters’ journey to crime and punishment. But you’ll know you’ve had to work hard. I enjoyed the book. I’ll read more Tartt. But if she takes the same liberties again, I might not stick around for the good parts.