R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on + 1452 more book reviews
Richard Papen hails from a a modest California family. He has no money of his own and his parents see no need for college but he obtains a scholarship to attend a private New England college. Richard is an unusual young man who enjoys studying Greek but finds he is unable to enroll in such classes. Through a fluke, however, he encounters students discussing Greek in the library. As he listens he realizes that he can offer some insight into the discussion. These students are enrolled in the Greek classes closed to him. So begins his entry into a group whose studies are totally controlled by the Greek professor.
The characters, most of whom are self-centered from wealthy families, have wonderful depth. The author builds tension slowly by blending character actions day after day until something happens. Someone is killed accidentally during a Bacchian rite with which the group was experimenting. The involved vow to keep it secret, not even telling Richard for a long period. This is the beginning of a tragic scenario that sets individuals against one another. So the five become six who are removed from other students. They are self-absorbed and arrogant intellectuals obsessed not only with stkudying the language but about the culture of ancient Greece. Richard becomes intimately involved with the others, so that he, too, feels the impact of not one death, but two. The novel skillfully paints the lives of each individual following these terrible actions. Can there be justification and remorse from those involved. Although long, this is a most compelling read as one
turns page after page to see what happens next.
The book explores friendship in great depth from belonging and being accepted to what sacrifices we make to attain and keep a friendship. What do we gain from good friends and what happens when those friendships wane? The author explores the deepest emotional impact of it all with a cast of six college students. This is a most remarkable read.
The characters, most of whom are self-centered from wealthy families, have wonderful depth. The author builds tension slowly by blending character actions day after day until something happens. Someone is killed accidentally during a Bacchian rite with which the group was experimenting. The involved vow to keep it secret, not even telling Richard for a long period. This is the beginning of a tragic scenario that sets individuals against one another. So the five become six who are removed from other students. They are self-absorbed and arrogant intellectuals obsessed not only with stkudying the language but about the culture of ancient Greece. Richard becomes intimately involved with the others, so that he, too, feels the impact of not one death, but two. The novel skillfully paints the lives of each individual following these terrible actions. Can there be justification and remorse from those involved. Although long, this is a most compelling read as one
turns page after page to see what happens next.
The book explores friendship in great depth from belonging and being accepted to what sacrifices we make to attain and keep a friendship. What do we gain from good friends and what happens when those friendships wane? The author explores the deepest emotional impact of it all with a cast of six college students. This is a most remarkable read.
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