This book follows narrator Richard Papen as he reflects on his time in college. Richard moves to Vermont to attend Hampden College, a small liberal arts college in New England. When he arrives, he finds himself entranced by the classics program led by a charismatic professor. He desperately wants to befriend the other students who are wealthy and educated, everything Richard feels he is not. Richard feels that he will do whatever it takes to fit in with the others, even as things become drastically more dark. I would highly recommend this book. It was slightly boring towards the beginning, but as it progressed, the pace of the story really picked up. This is one of the first books that I have read in a while that really got me interested in the story. Not only is the story compelling, but there’s also an intellectual aspect to the book that makes it appealing to someone who enjoys learning. There were times while reading where I had a physical reaction to what was happening in the story. I was sad when it ended, and I wish that I could read it again for the first time.