Dark Academia? Light Academia? Huh? - Page 2

issybird · 09-02-2021, 12:12 PM

Rather coincidentally, I just started a recent purchase that fits, Abigail by Magda Szabó. At the start of WWII, a girl in Budapest is sent to a repressive boarding school by her father, with no explanation. I don’t want to spoil myself by reading squibs, but it’s obvious that her time at school will be one of unexpected twists and slow revelations. I’m enjoying it so far.

Critteranne · 09-02-2021, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Rather coincidentally, I just started a recent purchase that fits, Abigail by Magda Szabó. At the start of WWII, a girl in Budapest is sent to a repressive boarding school by her father, with no explanation. I don’t want to spoil myself by reading squibs, but it’s obvious that her time at school will be one of unexpected twists and slow revelations. I’m enjoying it so far.

Oooh! Thanks!

Critteranne · 09-17-2021, 01:12 PM

I posted this in the Bargains forum, but I thought I should mention it here because this book doesn't seem to go on sale very often...
"Possession" by A. S. Byatt is on sale! Grab this one if you've been waiting for it -- or if you're into dark academia, novels about academics, etc. The regular digital price is $14.99.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007OLYPW2...ng=UTF8&btkr=1

issybird · 09-17-2021, 01:24 PM

I realized that Dorothy L. Sayers’s Gaudy Night fits the criteria very closely.

Critteranne · 09-17-2021, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

I realized that Dorothy L. Sayers’s Gaudy Night fits the criteria very closely.

I've seen it included in dark academia lists.

I started to make a Word file based on my Amazon "Dark Academia" wishlist and suggestions here. (It was necessary because my wishlist wasn't in alphabetical order within category order.) Once I've updated it, I'll try posting it here if anybody wants a copy.

Critteranne · 11-13-2021, 06:15 AM

The Secret History by Donna Tartt is $3.99 today. This is considered by many to be one of the most influential Dark Academia books.

Catlady · 12-18-2021, 01:23 PM

I just finished The Hawthorne School by Sylvie Perry, which I've seen described as dark academia. It's about a young, naive mother who enrolls her badly behaved four-year-old in an exclusive private school. It was OK, though it's hard to believe anyone could be as willfully naive and downright stupid as this mother. Then again, there are people who wear tinfoil hats and think JFK Jr. will resurrect, so maybe this character is more realistic than I want to believe.

Critteranne · 12-18-2021, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

I just finished The Hawthorne School by Sylvie Perry, which I've seen described as dark academia. It's about a young, naive mother who enrolls her badly behaved four-year-old in an exclusive private school. It was OK, though it's hard to believe anyone could be as willfully naive and downright stupid as this mother. Then again, there are people who wear tinfoil hats and think JFK Jr. will resurrect, so maybe this character is more realistic than I want to believe.

I think a lot of psychological suspense novel plots would unravel if the heroines (it's usually the heroines, darn it!) had any common sense.

Catlady · 12-18-2021, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Critteranne

I think a lot of psychological suspense novel plots would unravel if the heroines (it's usually the heroines, darn it!) had any common sense.

This heroine, however, seems to have less common sense than her four-year-old!

issybird · 12-05-2022, 12:25 PM

What has turned out to be my favorite novel of this year (published this year and read by me), The Latinist by Mark Prins I noticed was frequently tagged as Dark Academia at Goodreads or I’d not have made the association. I’d not have expected such palpable tension in a fiction about classical academics at Oxford, but there you are.

Ned · 12-05-2022, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

What has turned out to be my favorite novel of this year (published this year and read by me), The Latinist by Mark Prins I noticed was frequently tagged as Dark Academia at Goodreads or I’d not have made the association. I’d not have expected such palpable tension in a fiction about classical academics at Oxford, but there you are.

Thank you, that looks good. I look forward to reading it.
I've never heard the phrase Dark Academia, but academia is certainly a wicked world if the late great C. P. Snow's immortal Strangers and Brothers series is to be believed.

Bookpossum · 12-05-2022, 07:46 PM

Thanks for the tip on The Latinist issybird.

I think Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby might fit the genre.

meeera · 12-06-2022, 03:33 AM

The Scholomance series by Naomi Novik fits here. And Grossman's The Magicians, of course.

11-13-2021, 06:15 AM	#21
Critteranne Guru Posts: 779 Karma: 21097142 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MD Device: Kindle, iPad	The Secret History The Secret History by Donna Tartt is $3.99 today. This is considered by many to be one of the most influential Dark Academia books.

12-05-2022, 07:46 PM	#27
Bookpossum Snoozing in the sun Posts: 10,137 Karma: 115423645 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: iPad Mini, Kobo Touch	Thanks for the tip on The Latinist issybird. I think Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby might fit the genre. Last edited by Bookpossum; 12-05-2022 at 07:50 PM.

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09-02-2021, 12:12 PM	#16
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 20,209 Karma: 222235366 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: H2O, Aura One, PW5	Rather coincidentally, I just started a recent purchase that fits, *Abigail* by Magda Szabó. At the start of WWII, a girl in Budapest is sent to a repressive boarding school by her father, with no explanation. I don’t want to spoil myself by reading squibs, but it’s obvious that her time at school will be one of unexpected twists and slow revelations. I’m enjoying it so far.

09-17-2021, 01:12 PM	#18
Critteranne Guru Posts: 779 Karma: 21097142 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MD Device: Kindle, iPad	I posted this in the Bargains forum, but I thought I should mention it here because this book doesn't seem to go on sale very often... "Possession" by A. S. Byatt is on sale! Grab this one if you've been waiting for it -- or if you're into dark academia, novels about academics, etc. The regular digital price is $14.99. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007OLYPW2...ng=UTF8&btkr=1

09-17-2021, 01:24 PM	#19
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 20,209 Karma: 222235366 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: H2O, Aura One, PW5	I realized that Dorothy L. Sayers’s *Gaudy Night* fits the criteria very closely.

12-18-2021, 01:23 PM	#22
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,345 Karma: 52398889 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I just finished The Hawthorne School by Sylvie Perry, which I've seen described as dark academia. It's about a young, naive mother who enrolls her badly behaved four-year-old in an exclusive private school. It was OK, though it's hard to believe anyone could be as willfully naive and downright stupid as this mother. Then again, there are people who wear tinfoil hats and think JFK Jr. will resurrect, so maybe this character is more realistic than I want to believe.

12-05-2022, 12:25 PM	#25
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 20,209 Karma: 222235366 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: H2O, Aura One, PW5	What has turned out to be my favorite novel of this year (published this year and read by me), *The Latinist* by Mark Prins I noticed was frequently tagged as Dark Academia at Goodreads or I’d not have made the association. I’d not have expected such palpable tension in a fiction about classical academics at Oxford, but there you are.

12-06-2022, 03:33 AM	#28
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,658 Karma: 66417824 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	The Scholomance series by Naomi Novik fits here. And Grossman's The Magicians, of course.

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