The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Secret History by Donna Tartt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great story that really captivates the reader to turn the pages. It’s a take on a different theme as the ‘whodunnit’ is revealed straight away; it’s the how that intrigues the reader. At first, I thought it might be too intellectual since there’s a fair bit of detail about philosophy and the classics discussed in class. I even thought that Tartt might imply a modern-day Magus. But add in some traditional student vices and it soon becomes a tale that everyone can relate to. Richard has the perfect method in the group to blend in from the outsider to closest confidant without having to pledge close allegiance to any other character. And having such young characters creates even more possibilities as they don’t necessarily have the same conformity and methods as regular murderers or villains. Tartt’s conclusion is quite short but brutal; exploring the power of guilt and how to cope with it.

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'You have to fight to meet your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.'

The road to success is tough but you need to stay focused. Sometimes you even have to fight with yourself to get the task done. Finding the energy and enthusiasm can be difficult, as well as the time. It’s also difficult to resist those distractions but you must persevere; even if you have to divert your time from others that may need your assistance. You may have to abandon certain pursuits and pleasures to pursue others, and leave other people behind too. Others may help you, but they can also hinder you and the goal may never be reached. What you really need is a plan to find that perfect balance, a time for you to truly achieve your ambition. Then you can keep going no matter what happens. It sounds crude, but only you can achieve your goals. If it was easy then everyone would be doing it. So go.

Measuring Up

I’ve got some slat blinds in my room. They’re good at covering the window, but what they’re not good at is blocking out the light. The window’s not very tall as it overlooks a windowsill but it’s quite wide. I thought that a blackout blind might do the trick so that I can carry on with my computer during the summer. It’s a great distraction. So I’d thought I’d try out the measuring app on my phone. I’ve got no idea how it works. Perhaps the camera uses a laser to calculate how far it’s away from things and calculates the perspective distance? But how do you know it’s calculating the correct surface? Can you trust its accuracy? And how do you use the app anyway? It’s often quite tricky to get a reading and if I was to rely on it, I’d have to google the app for instructions. If I was doing some building work or making a purchase, I’d still use an old-fashioned tape measure just to be sure. On the other hand, I should really be outside when the sun’s streaming through the window.  

Calm Kim

Cool, calm aloof. Nearly an ice queen who isn’t bothered by much and isn’t prepared to go into too much detail about their needs. Someone who you’ve never met before has forced their way into your life and you’re forced to find some common ground. Half the time you’re entertaining the children while the adults converse so quite often conversation is avoided. You don’t know what’s already been said so does it seem rude to make them repeat it? Or does it make you look ignorant and not caring? Naturally, you want to find out about their past but everyone else seems to know this so you feel a bit disinclined. The last thing you want to do is to make her feel that you’re vetting her, but it’s difficult to find out about topics that interest you both. Travel and discussion of previous activities similar to what you’re currently doing are usually safe topics. 

A Wander around Warners

It’s nice to explore the world around you. You can discover new and interesting places. But sometimes you really need to know where you’re going. It’s no good going for a wander if you’re not going to enjoy it; and it could waste a great deal of your time. It’s also nice to know if you can wander around in a circle. If you have to go back the way you came, things can get too repetitive and boring. The challenge is knowing a bit about where you’re going rather than just ploughing on. Do you see what’s around the corner before deciding if you should turn around? I find that asking around is sometimes detrimental to the experience as one opinion can differ greatly from another. That’s why it’s always best to have a map. You can plan your route and have a guide as to what to expect without ruining too much of the adventure for you.

What is the best thing that you can do for someone who is homeless and hungry?

I’m approached by a homeless person. ‘Spare any change?’ the problem is the context. I just don’t know what they need the change for. Are they saving up to buy food or a hot drink? Or are they going to splash out on old habits like a can of booze or a line of coke? You’ve got no way of knowing whether you’re helping them to survive or fund disorderly crime. And as soon as you donate, they’ll hound you for more. You could give them a gift or loyalty card so they’ve got no choice but to spend it at an outlet. But these people may be nervous of entering such stores; they may even be accused of theft as soon as they enter. It seems that the best course of action is to donate to a cause that deals with the homeless. It might not help the person in front of you in the short term; but you can always attempt to persuade these organisations to assist a particular person and they may even be aware of their background.

Up the Bosporus

One of Mum’s ambitions was to sail up the Bosporus, and we managed to find a ferry to do this for a bargain 25 lira a head. This wasn’t a sightseeing tour but a passenger ferry, so we were without a guide or the commentary, and we weren’t sure what we were looking at some of the time. We were also subjected to beggars selling scarves but it was a day out on a shoestring. We called in at various ports and I had a map on my phone so we could get some idea of what we were looking at, including castles and palaces. Then we got our first glimpse of the black sea. We called in at Anadolu where everyone disembarked and the crew took a break. Everyone filed past the village and climbed the hill, so we decided to follow and reached the abandoned Yorus castle for a great view. Along the way were apartments in gated communities with barbed wire fencing, it looked like a prison with the amount of military presence but I guessed that they could have been barracks since there was a squad going through a drill that we’d spotted once we’d returned to the ferry. We also stopped off at a nice fish restaurant with a sea view while we waited to re-board the ferry.