The Secret History by Donna Tartt

I know it’s a popular book—has been since it came out—but I waited to read it until after the recent internet hype died down. I’m glad I did, because I think the “dark academia aesthetic” posts don’t do it justice.

Richard Papen was a fine narrator, though I now realize he wasn’t entirely reliable. That probably makes for good re-readability. The rest of the main characters were excellent. Despite being out-of-touch, they really felt grounded. I’m sure some of that is due to the semi-autobiographical nature of Hampden and its inhabitants. Still, I think two murders are exactly the kind of thing you might expect from a handful of isolated undergrads under the influence of their beloved, batty professor. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if I read about something like that in the news.

The online frenzy is particularly funny because its focus on aesthetics are exactly what made the characters so insane. The tendency to romanticize the people, their tastes and sense of superiority, and the setting are exactly what enabled the characters to do what they did. It feels ironic (not that I know if my usage of that word is accurate or not).

Overall, I’d say it’s worth the hype, but not in the way you might think.