The Secret History, Donna Tart - wow!

[DuskyPink1984]

I am so late to this but wow, what an amazing book (currently only halfway through).

I did read 'The Goldfinch' a few years ago and loved it. Surprised this one hasn't been made into a film, too. Reading about it online, it looks as though it came close. I feel as though the film 'Saltburn' has similar themes.

How on earth will I follow this one? I spend my days off reading in the garden in good weather.

Any recommendations? I have recently enjoyed 'The Salt Path' and some of Kate Morton's books (loved 'Homecoming' but did not finish 'The Clockmakers Daughter').

This has been sat in my to read pile for ages. Currently just started Annie Bot but may have to get to this one next then.

Waugh's Brideshead Revisited? Was a big influence on the Secret History.

Demon Copperhead was great. And the Salt Path sequel is good too

I was going to say Demon Copperhead! Also A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry.

Brilliant! Thank you for all the suggestions. I have watched the Brideshead Revisited TV series and loved it so am sure I would really love the book.

Thank you for all suggestions, I will read them all.

Just looked up Demon Copperhead and noticed the author. I read The Poisonwood Bible years ago and loved it.

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a28954524/donna-tartt-secret-history-movie/

This gives some background on why various people with options haven’t ended up making a film version. I have a feeling people think now it’s moment has passed? I mean, I was casting it in my head in the 90s when I first read it, but everyone is now far too old or dead — I had Philip Seymour Hoffmann as Bunny and Matt Damon as Richard. Possibly I had Gwyneth Paltrow as Camilla, though not sure I ever came up with a Charles. Maybe Robert Sean Leonard made blonde? One of my friends argued strenuously for casting John Cusack against type as Henry.

Now I bet someone would cast Timothée Chalamet as Frances, as this article suggests.

I ADORE The Secret History; such a masterpiece.

Maybe try The Little Friend, her third book?

I haven't read it but one of my daughters says If We Were Villains is slightly similar

I read it when was first published.

It was such fun in those days because I used to commute in London Waterloo and most people read books. You would see a whole carriage of people all reading the same book and think 'I need to track this down'. The Secret History was one of these, (also Nick Hornby's High Fidelity and Captain Corelli's Mandolin.)

I gave a copy to my son as he wanted to do Classics at university, and he loved it. I must get around to re-reading it. It's a great book. I remember actually feeling as if I had been up all night smoking and drinking, just from reading her description!

Donna Tartt wrote one other book that you didn't mention, The Little Friend. Opinion seems to be very divided on that one. Personally I rather enjoyed it but I know people who didn't rate it at all. I liked the period feel and setting - the young characters would have been very slightly older than me, and even though I don't live in America, there were lots of little things that made me think "oh yes, people did that when I was little too." The common complaint seems to be that (trying to avoid spoilers here) a storyline isn't fully resolved, but I don't think that is the point of the book.

@Shirtless Philip Seymour Hoffmann as Bunny - would have been perfect!

Oh I love this book, it’s one of my favourites. I re-read it every year

Love this book, too. I would re -read but I have a stack of other books to get my nose into!

One of my favourites. I also adored The Goldfinch. But I didn’t get on with The Little Friend and DNF’d it. Hopefully her fourth book will emerge in my lifetime!

I thought it was great in parts ... but the reason they got into the mess they did was not in the least bit credible.

I second A Fine Balance. It's a very fine book, and has a genuinely shocking ending, which is rare.

but did not finish 'The Clockmakers Daughter

I don't blame you! I couldn't finish it either. It's pure trash.