After reading this book, I left without any new knowledge. Perhaps except for the warning not to romanticize psychopaths. But for some strange reason, I couldn't finish it because it captivated me so much. Maybe that's what draws people to it so much? The monotony and the portrayal of normal life through the eyes of a normal person. Or rather, the atmosphere of college and the library with the extinguished candles. Or maybe the fact that they (including me) will never have the chance to experience it firsthand. If I had finished it in one day, this review would have been completely different. This certainly won't be the end of my adventure with Donna Tartt, because she has a mature writing style, and I appreciate that. And despite the many pop culture references, which no one will understand all of them, only some, which I've always treated in any work as the author's vision telling us "where haven't I been, what haven't I seen" I truly appreciate them as such small mane topic step outs. At times, I relate strongly with Richard, with how he tries to fit in with the group he's initially intimidated by. At the same time, however, I feel that if he weren't in the story, it wouldn't have had any impact on the events, and that's sad. However, towards the end — and I'm ashamed to say this — I relate more to the final descriptions of Henry and Julian in my current life... I'll have to reread it someday.