Puzzles and mysteries
Tulip Chowdhury likes a tale of twists and turns
Anyone who likes thrill and mystery blended into a well told story is certain to be completely immersed in this work by Donna Tartt. The book holds the reader in suspense with its saga of some students of Greek language, their involvement in some ancient rites, a secret society and a mystery topped with a murder. Richard Papen, a student in his twenties, finds himself full of insecurities and anxiety as he tries to settle down in Hampden College, Vermont. Coming from California, from a peaceful but hard up family, Richard finds many activities of his friends inexplicable. The twins Charlie and Camilla, Francis, Bunny and Henry, are the friends he has in Hampden. All of them attend the same Greek language classes. The friends are kind and are good to him. But he feels as if there is a veil hiding many of their doings. By accident he stumbles upon some secret ancient rites in which Henry, Francis, Charlie and Camilla are involved. On the same night of the ancient rites the murder of an innocent farmer is committed. Francis and Henry are ready to take Richard into confidence and come out with their secret. However, Bunny, the talkative one, the outrageous one suspects them of wrong doings. Bunny is the type who blurts out deep secrets when his temper flares up. Now Richard too feels as if he is a member of the secret. They have to hide the secret from Bunny, a secret that is hidden from the rest of the world. Any leaks and they might end up behind the bars. Richard used to think that life could be simple if one wanted it that way. But now Richard wonders aloud, "Does such a thing as "the fatal flow", that showy dark crack running down the middle of life exist outside literature? I used to think it didn't. But now I think it does." Richard finds life at Hampden perplexing. While Richard soaks into the life at Hampden he tries to hide the financial insecurities of his family. In winter when the dorm closes and his friends leave Richard finds himself in extreme hardships. His parents fail to send him any money. Depended on his scholarship he finds it hard to pay for his food and accommodation. He nearly faces death while living in an unheated room in the coldest month of Vermont. He gets bed ridden with pneumonia. His landlord, a hippie is well aware of the inhuman condition in which Richard lives but the total lack of sympathy of this man puzzles him. How can a human being remain so immune to sufferings right under the same roof? However the sudden arrival of Henry saves him just when he is fighting with death. Their teacher Julian also seems to have some link with the hush, hush secret of Richard's friends. Richard finds himself mistrusting the teacher also. The puzzling friends, the mysterious happenings and other secrets keep Richard's feelings with his friends stretched like a rubber band; drawing them together once and then throwing them apart again. Richard is accepted into their dark, inner circle but when he learns of their terrible secret he wishes that he had not set his foot at Hampden. Richard finds life nearly suffocating. Little did he know that this was in fact the beginning of more sinister tales yet to unfold. The story continues with the unfurling of mysterious happenings and keeps the reader wide awake, reading into the late hours of night. The Secret History is a psychological thriller that keeps the reader turning the page. As the rituals of the ancient rites surface there comes a touch of surrealism in the story. However the book contains some Greek sentences which throw the reader into some confusion if he or she does not know the language. The character of Bunny, abusive and untrustworthy makes the reader wonder why he was accepted as a friend in the circle of these scholars. Even the protagonist Richard too seems to hold a character that is too simple for his roles. He seldom has any opinion of his own but seems to dance to the tunes set for him. Maybe the protagonist is supposed to have the coming of age roles. Still there is a feeling that a more commanding role from the protagonist might have given the story more sparks.
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