fanfic_reviews

my personal opinions. only the good stuff unless someone asks specifically for smth else.

[betryl]

Today I discovered that a couple of TSH characters were based on actual people Donna Tartt knew at Bennington College- amongst them were students Todd O'Neal and Matt Jacobsen, who were the inspiration for Henry and Bunny respectively.

AND JUST—

There's even their own comments about it and it's so funny wait:

Here's the source

[fanficrevvie]

ARTICLE .01

Today I read:

Donna Tartt’s “The Secret History” as Revenge Fantasy an article bt Brooke Clark in LARB.

A short take, situating Tartt's book under 'burn books', referencing Lili Anolik's podcast.

Brooke says that even if Donna denies the claims of her books being based off of real people, it being a burn book (possibly) does not diminish the quality of her work, rather "places it in it's true light".

My personal opinions would be that I agree. I didn't know about the concept of burn books before this, but I wonder, is taking inspiration from your life or surroundings bad? I understand the dilemma of incorporating real people and their personalities in ways that are so recognisable and direct; the people who resemble Bunny and Henry seemed to consider it a sort of revenge fiction.

However at the end of the day, i can't find it a wholly 'morally reprehensible' thing, to be inspired by people in your daily life and incorporate them into a story. I might be flawed, I don't know. How do you write people without referencing people?

Donna Tartt’s “The Secret History” as Revenge Fantasy | Los Angeles Review of Books

Brooke Clark situates Donna Tartt’s first novel, “The Secret History,” in the long, august history of burn books.

[fanficrevvie]

Stop All the Clocks (This Is the Last Time I’m Leaving Without You)

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

tags: MCD , grief/mourning , angst , Drarry , HPDM , auror partners, non linear narration

( Spoilers !! )

Review:

Absolutely breathtaking. The way firethesound has encapsulated grieving into this-- it's insane.

It is SO sad, and So beautiful; there are things that will stick to you. Haunt you. The same way it haunts Harry.

For me these are the "You cut toasts in half corners if you love someone," ; The mugs at stasis, holding on for six years. "He was always good at charmwork." ; and of course, "I was wondering when you'd show up."

It haunts me.

I love the parallels, the weaving between past and present by using specific words. It is just so goregous done. And Harry's loss was so huge, by the end of the fic, I felt like it was me who had lost a part of myself.

The whole death part was so abrupt, so sudden, like the snap of fingers. One instant he was here, the other, not. The way Harry had to navigate his life. The way he kept coming across things; socks, jumpers, mugs, memories, the fucking ring. God the ring broke me. That was so cruel. My gods.

As I read this, I began getting angry on Harry's behalf; I was mad when Harry put the ring back; mad when people told him to move on; angry when they said him going to meet the Shade was unhealthy; angry when at the end he did do what was good for him, removing the stasis and cleaning the house.

Gods I was so mad. That's how brilliant this fic is. Definitely a classic.