The Secret History (spoilers for the unread) what next?

[3kidsareenough]

So I'm back in the same place I was after reading the Goldfinch. Feeling totally lost now I've finished the secret history. I loved every page of it...Donna Tartts writing just makes me melt...and poor Henry totally devastated with the ending. Each character was so vivid they stay with me, just like Theo & Borris....So what do I read next good readers of Mums net?. After the Goldfinch you recommended A little life and I loved it (again felt lost when it ended). I'm not necessarily looking for something along the same topic of the secret history but definitely something with the same writing style and as interesting....any suggestions Mumsnetters?? Many thanks in advance

A Prayer for Owen Meany is what I would recommend - I found myself similarly “invested” in the characters and John Irving’s writing is superb

I first read the Secret History at university and I still love it 20 years later. I disliked TLF (must try it again) and liked but didn’t love The Goldfinch.
I don’t think there’s anything quite like TSH but some suggestions:

The Bell Jar
Brett Easton Ellis The Rules of Attraction (shares some characters with TSH)
Brideshead Revisited
The Name of the Rose
Playing Fields in Winter by Helen Harris
Possession by AS Byatt
Wonder Boys

IMO her many modern imitators do not come close. Special mention for Black Chalk which is truly one of the worst books I have ever read.

You’ve probably read Brideshead, but if you haven’t you must!!!

God I absolutely love The Secret History, it's definitely my favourite book.
I just recently read We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson, which I bought mainly because of the quote from Donna Tartt on the front. That I can definitely recommend. Also agree with others re Wych Elm, I read that and really enjoyed it.

Irish murdoch really reminds me of Donna ytrat.

Ooh, I didn’t know that about Rules of Attraction sharing characters with TSH slipperyeel. I’ll have to read it now.

I’ve just got to Theo’s engagement party in The Goldfinch and did a little squeak at the mention of Francis Abernathy!

Hope you enjoy it @mrsfrumble - BBE and DT both went to the same college (Bennington I think) and it’s definitely the same setting that they use

Have you read The Group?