Have you ever read a book, put it down, think you’ve moved on, only to find you can’t shake it? That’s me with The Secret History by Donna Tartt. If you’ve read it, chances are you loved it or you loathed it—there doesn’t seem to be much in between. If, like me, you are the former, you’ve probably tried to find something similar for a follow up read, with varying levels of success. I’ve been there. In fact, I’m still there. Every book touted as being “for fans of Donna Tartt” has found its way into my hands at some point. I’m on an epic, Don Quixote-like search for the perfect Secret History read-alike*. Some would call this a fool’s errand, but I’m determined that one day I will find it (and I know I’m not alone!). But until that happens, there are some perfectly respectable efforts on offer, all reminiscent in some way of Tartt’s 1992 classic. So, how to determine which ones are worth the read? A good Secret History read-alike will be composed of some very specific ingredients.
All posts by Alyssia
SKAM: Get Obsessed
© NRK
At the end of Skam’s third season, three words shine across a dark screen: “ALT ER LOVE.” “Everything is love”, in Norwegian. If you spend as much time on the Internet as I do, you may have heard of the little teen show from Norway that has become a viral phenomenon. It’s easily one of the most binge-able shows ever (flashback to me marathoning season one on New Year’s Eve, and only stopping because my plans got in the way) and it will briefly take over your life. Of course, an American adaptation has already been announced. In the grand tradition of teen shows, Skam deals with a variety of issues. But show creator Julie Andem wanted it to be as honest as possible: no character is wholly good or bad, and they all have a lot of learning to do. And isn’t that exactly what growing up is? Eva must face the consequences of betraying a friend; cool feminist Noora can be preachy and hypocritical; and Isak’s internalized homophobia rises when he falls for the enigmatic Even. The issues aren’t high drama; they’re relatable. And it’s all handled in such a normal way that it’s easy to forget it’s fictional.
Stranger Reads
So you’ve binge-watched Netflix’s Stranger Things, and now there’s an eerie, 80s, Demogorgon-shaped hole in your heart. You’re somehow going to have to survive the year-long gap between seasons, and it’s looking rough. What to do? Well, just in time for Halloween, we’ve compiled a reading list to tide you over! Check out these reads at your local branch.
STRANGER READS
The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey
The Girl with All the Gifts – M.R. Carey
Melanie is a young girl who, for reasons unknown to her, is detained by the military and a Dr. Caldwell, who calls her “our little genius.” She’s escorted to and from school in a wheelchair, with guns trained on her the whole time. Melanie just wants to be a regular girl, but when it’s up to her to save the world, she realizes just how special she is. Picture Eleven in a dystopian future.
My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
My Best Friend’s Exorcism – Grady Hendrix
Hendrix’s story is saturated with 80s goodness (the music, the movies, the roller-skating) and the book is decorated like a high school yearbook, with cheeky messages written inside the covers. Best friends Abby and Gretchen are starting their first year of high school when suddenly Gretchen starts acting strange. She’s moody and difficult, and weird things keep happening around her. Is she possessed by a demon? Abby decides to investigate with the purpose of saving her best friend. But can their friendship survive the devil? A nostalgic coming of age tale, but with Satan!
The Boys of Summer: A Novel by Richard Cox
The Boys of Summer – Richard Cox
In 1979, Todd was knocked into a coma by a tornado ripping through his hometown of Wichita Falls. In 1983 Todd wakes up, 13 and with a new, uneasy grasp on reality. Together with five friends, Todd spends that summer coming of age with first loves, deep betrayals, and a terrible secret. 25 years later, the friends reunite. Embarking on a search for the truth of that summer, the men come head to head with the past, changing the way they see each other and the very world itself. Reviewed by Barnes & Noble as a “darker, edgier Stranger Things.”
Paper Girls volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan
Paper Girls, Vol. 1 – Brian K. Vaughan
It’s 1988, the early hours of November 1st. While some teens are still out celebrating Halloween, four 12 year old girls are up to delivery their paper routes. But their jobs are interrupted when they stumble across some mysterious figures in robes and they, of course, decide to investigate. A series about “nostalgia, first jobs, and the last days of childhood” (with a good dose of sci-fi thrown in), Volume 1 collects issues 1-5. The colouring of this series is gorgeous; the aesthetic is ultra-80s in the best way. Fans of Vaughan will definitely love this one.
If none of these do it for you, you can always check out NoveList from the VPL website. This database allows you to search for “read alikes” of your favourite books. Do you like the creepiness of Stranger Things? The sci-fi element? Stories of friends facing danger together? NoveList can find those titles for you!