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  • The Secret History

  • A Read with Jenna Pick
  • Written by: Donna Tartt
  • Narrated by: Donna Tartt
  • Length: 22 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (20 ratings)

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The Secret History cover art

The Secret History

Written by: Donna Tartt
Narrated by: Donna Tartt
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Publisher's Summary

A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK • INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • A contemporary literary classic and "an accomplished psychological thriller... absolutely chilling" (Village Voice), from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Goldfinch.

Under the influence of a charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at a New England college discover a way of thought and life a world away from their banal contemporaries. But their search for the transcendent leads them down a dangerous path, beyond human constructs of morality.

“A remarkably powerful novel [and] a ferociously well-paced entertainment.... Forceful, cerebral, and impeccably controlled.”—The New York Times

©2023 Penguin Random House Audio (P)2023 Random House Audio

What the critics say

"A beautifully written story, well-told, funny, sad, scary, and impossible to leave alone until I finished. . . . What a debut!"—John Grisham

"Powerful . . . Enthralling . . . A ferociously well-paced entertainment."—The New York Times

"An accomplished psychological thriller . . . Absolutely chilling . . . Tartt has a stunning command of the lyrical."—The Village Voice

What listeners say about The Secret History

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written, beautifully narrated

I deeply enjoyed this book and was completely pulled in by the story and characters. Tartt has a way of creating the most believable and human characters even in their absurdity. I cannot imagine it narrated by anyone else.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wish someone else narrated

The book is spectacular but the narration has a California accent and is terrible. You might be able to move past it or you might not

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • A
  • 2023-09-14

An autumnal classic.

I’ve been re-listening to The Secret History, and it’s even better the second time around. This book is all atmosphere; There’s only enough story to be a foundation to Donna Tartt’s ethereal writing.

Because it’s a long book and there’s not a lot of plot, the audiobook really shines. Books without much plot are always better if you can “read” while doing something else.

Additionally, I nearly always hate when authors narrate their own books, but Donna Tartt is magnificent. Her deep understanding of the characters really brings them to life. Plus, the tinny sound-quality (old recording) accents the atmosphere. give it a couple chapters to get used to her voice.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible Book

Honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read. Such beautiful story, amazing prose, well-written compelling characters.

Surprised to see other reviews are so low. The narration wasn’t mind blowing by any means, but it was certainly good enough and the fact that the author narrates it is nice. For this reason I felt like the tones of all the dialogue was read the “intended” way.

But seriously this is a must-read story.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I want to like it

Just having a very difficult time getting over the awful (valley girl?) narration. I see just now that the author narrated. I sure wish she had sprung for a professional!
Edit - It only got worse. I have returned the book.

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