I had been curious about this book for some time it had been sitting on my shelf staring at me - I was nervous to touch it, daunted by its length and its subject.  But finally I plucked up the courage I also decided that instead of reading it by myself I would instead listen via the audiobook downloaded from Libby but it was popular and I felt as there was a waiting list I needed to get on with it and I sat down every day for 10 days straight.  So what do I think ...

We are introduced to a group of students at college who are part of an exclusive clique under Julian Morrow, a classics professor who is very particular about who joins their tight knit circle.  We learn about each student, their background and how they fit within the group - 
the last to join them is Richard Papen who is in essence the narrator slowly peeling back the truth of what happened.  I think the reason that Richard is the narrator of the story is that if you saw the story through Henry or Charles’s eyes for instance your empathy would be reduced. You need to see the story through someone else’s eyes someone who is more like the audience might be or closer at least.  As the characters are intriguing, exasperating, horrifying, selfish, predatory. egocentric and cruely narcissistic.

I find it difficult to talk about the book without revealing too much, it is certainly a well written book and many times I found myself engrossed but I have to admit too often I found myself struggling to pay attention as sometimes I thought the conversations went on too long - 20-30 pages for one conversation and no matter how clever the language and dialogue it was hard to maintain concentration (8 chapters for a 600+ page book)!  However, I wouldn’t say I was ever bored it was an intriguing study of human nature and that being highly intelligent doesn’t always necessarily mean you will make smart choices in life.

I have to be honest otherwise what’s the point in a review, I found for me it was not an easy book for me to review - I never went to university that scholarly life is not something I have ever experienced I am not a worldly person and intellectually I found it a struggle to appreciate all the nuances of the story and I wished I could have felt more compelled into the story and characters however I do feel the book was worth my time or anybody’s time so don’t let me and my experience put you off having a go.

Also the audiobook was narrated by Donna Tartt herself who has a southern accent which does take a while to get use to listening with my English sensibilities. :)