Lauren O. (LoMel) - , reviewed on 4/13/2014 + 134 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 6

I liked this book more as I went along (after the first 50 pages I almost quit on it) but it was EASILY 200 pages too long. Tartt's writing is beautiful but endless descriptions for description's sake become tiresome. I think the basic story, plot line, and characters were all good (although WHERE were the competent adults in this book?!), but it seems like she was determined to make this book an epic by writing and writing when it could have read just as well with judicious editing. I haven't read her other two novels so I can't speak to how this one compares, but I feel as though many of the reviewers were swept up in her (admittedly masterful) use of prose and didn't take into account the readability of this novel. I would probably still recommend the book but be aware you'll have to trudge your way through parts and it's a long go of it.

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