This book hits all my quadrants, so to speak: college students, New England, Classics majors, and un-ironic Bacchanalia that somehow manages never to feel smutty. The weather is turning cooler (at least in Michigan), and all I can think about are apples and pumpkins, so now is the time to get your hands on The Secret History, a novel meant to be read fireside, wrapped in Pendelton wools and Aran sweaters, with a steaming mug of grog or hot toddy in hand (I'd give you a recipe but I'm a spoiled jerk who married someone incredibly good at mixing drinks, so I just shout "Toddy, please!" like a woman with a butler and it magically appears in front of me). Many people loved Tartt's more recent novel The Goldfinch; even more people hated it -- I still haven't read it and probably won't get around to it anytime soon -- BUT! -- either way, don't let that stop you from The Secret History, which is incredible and is probably the real reason why she won the Pulitzer Prize.

The Bookhive List is a weekly recommendation of my all-time favorite, must-read books.