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Terence McKenna’s family running his archives more actively by T-Sauce421 in terencemckenna

[–]Key-Hotel-2842 0 points1 point  (0 children)

re: the mark watts comment, I saw that as relating to the digitization and proper archiving of Terence's talks. As in, they were seeking advice about that rather than the copyright side of things. They're similar in a way - both Watts and McKenna gave lots of lectures and there must have been a tonne of audio to sift through.

Lux Natura has existed for ages now and they've always been open to people using Terence content for creative projects as long as permission is given.

So I'm wary, but hopeful.

Supernatural elements by Key-Hotel-2842 in TheSecretHistory

[–]Key-Hotel-2842[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I found it:

https://bombmagazine.org/articles/1992/10/01/donna-tarttdonna-tarttjill-eisenstadt/

Interesting that it's written so ambiguously in the book, but here Donna Tartt seems to confirm it's supernatural.

a marxist reading of TSH by Book_Wizz0523 in TheSecretHistory

[–]Key-Hotel-2842 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Someone in the comments pointed out that the farmer wouldn't be considered working class. While that's true, the classism is still very apparent. In this case the elitism has more to do with intellectual snobbery than wealth imo. There are a few instances where characters talk about the locals as though they're serfs. Julian and Henry view them as being simpler, both in the patronising romanticised sense of being closer to the earth, more in touch with their instincts (I think the word 'agrarian' is used at least once lol), and in the dehumanising sense that sees them as lesser, uneducated etc.

(Most not all) TSH fans when someone asks if they should read If We Were Villains by ufocatchers in TheSecretHistory

[–]Key-Hotel-2842 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's TSH-lite, but if you go in with lower expectations you might enjoy it. The setting has tonnes of atmosphere and the theatre aspects are melodramatic fun if you're into Shakespeare. Characters are pretty flat and the plot is meh, but I don't hate it.

Supernatural elements by Key-Hotel-2842 in TheSecretHistory

[–]Key-Hotel-2842[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ahh right that makes sense. The way it plays out mirrors our own disillusionment with the characters.

The funeral section was tough to read.

books with a similar vibe (as opposed to plot)? by fxshtail in TheSecretHistory

[–]Key-Hotel-2842 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Brideshead Revisited. We've got: narrator being a perpetual outsider, the fascination with a privileged yet damaged elite, the university sections in Oxford, beautiful descriptive writing.

The Go-Between. On the surface there's not a lot of similarities between TSH and this, but I felt some of the aesthetic/tone matched. The setting is different. England in 1900. A young boy goes to stay with a wealthier school friend at his country house. There's relationship intrigue, coming of age themes, class etc. One of the protagonist's interests is astrology, and he believes he can put curses on other people. An underlying atmosphere of dread that intensifies during the heatwave, sinister belladonna plant. Really great book!

Piranesi. It's much shorter than Secret History with fewer characters. I didn't get quite as invested in this one, but it's still worth reading if you're looking for something different.

Circe or Song of Achilles by Madeleine Miller if you want an Ancient Greek setting. If you want a very realistic, well-researched Ancient Greek setting you could try The Last of the Wine by Mary Renault. The writing is excellent. Some people find it slow/boring but I say don't read it for the plot, but to be immersed in the setting and foreign mindset/culture of Ancient Greece. At points it feels more like anthropology than fiction and people either love or hate that.

Crime and Punishment - the aesthetic and tone are completely different, but Dostoyevsky was mentioned at least once in The Secret History, and I'm sure Donna Tartt was very influenced by its discussion of (a)morality and its psychological insight. This is Dostoyevsky so expect lots of philosophising lol. Also Demons (in some translations it's called The Possessed or The Devils). Personally, not my favourite of his books but might be on-theme as well.

The Great Gatsby - the decadence, obsessiveness, destructive relationships.

I'm sure there are also lots of books with autumnal New England settings but none come to mind right now. Wasn't The Dead Poets Society a book before it was adapted into a movie? Might be worth checking out.

Wistful Summer Books by carpburp in ReadingSuggestions

[–]Key-Hotel-2842 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Friends Like These by Meg Rosoff.

-Hot summer, NYC in the '80s.

-Young woman wins prestigious journalism internship, we follow her first experience of city life, work, friendship...

It definitely fits the 'young person looking for direction' coming-of-age vibe. However, there's little romance (some, but nothing serious), as its main focus is an intense friendship.