I was awe-struck by this book when I first read it when it was published in 1992. (I now realize I own a first-edition that could have value someday!). I'm suprised now to learn two things. Number one is Donna Tartt herself. Why has she not written any thing else? The other is that the reviews are so obviously one-sided. It's either a one star rating or 5 stars with only a few with any ratings in between. It seems to be definitely a take or leave it kind of book. For me it was a "take it" kind of book. It was of the few books I still remember too much of to bother reading it again just now. But believe me, I will be reading it again someday (in paperback, however, to protect my first edition).