An Un-Calibrated Centrifuge

ETA: This book is really... orientalist... not exactly the word that conveys my feelings about it, but probably the closest. Like, the things range from outright racist (Chinaman) to more microaggressive things (oriental language) to outdated shit that has no business in a book published in the 90s (The Bride of Fu Manchu, coolie labor, Asiatic serenity to describe a white dude).

There's also that totally unnecessary bit with the mechanic and the Arab man. It adds nothing to the story and is super offensive and should have just been left off.

REVIEW:

After I reread Never Let Me Go I was struck by a desire to read about boarding schools (every book about boarding schools I own is so full of white characters... why is that?).

Technically The Secret History is set at a college, but close enough.

The first time I read this I rushed through the ending because it was due back at the library. I remember being disappointed by the last 200+ pages. This time only the ending disappointed.

This is a book I think you need to be in a specific mood to read. The writing can seem self-indulgent and tends to lean towards the telling more than the showing (possibly b/c of Richard's status as an outsider in the group?). All of the characters are horrible people and the plot is completely unbelievable. But there is something captivating about the story that kept me reading the whole time (except for a few graphic scenes that I had to skip).