The Goldfinch

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Average customer rating 4.6 (9 comments)

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It’s difficult to put simply a synopsis of such an involved book as THE GOLDFINCH. There’s so much to say about it! But suffice it to say that the narrator, at 13, is the victim of a museum bombing. His mother is killed, and at the insistence of a dying old man, he leaves the museum with a painting, saving it from possible ruin. Both these results, along with PTSD, affect his life for many years after the bombing. If you read other reviews of THE GOLDFINCH, you know that people either love it or they hate it. I’m at the positive end of the scale, i.e., I loved it. But I understand the negative remarks. I just don’t agree. Most of the negative reviews complain that the book is too long, the narrator’s thoughts go on and on and on. Yes, THE GOLDFINCH IS long, 771 pages. That’s too long for some people and too long for some books. Some people are put off by a long book because some books aren’t good enough to make them want to invest that much of their time in it. It might have seemed that way to them as it did to me at first. The story didn’t get off to a good start for me because its narrator is a 13-year-old boy, and most books about kids bore me. But I found this book is the exception; Donna Tartt’s writing is that good. Besides, he doesn’t stay 13. I was sorry to see his story end. Maybe some people gave up too soon. I was happy to read that some reviewers compare this to Dickens' books because I thought that, too. Except THE GOLDFINCH is a modern Dickens book (and better, I think).

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I think through some parts of this book, giving it a 4 is a bit to generous. This was my first Tartt novel so I didn't go into it already loving the author (which I REALLY feel played into critical reviews) so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I can say that I really loved the first half of the book. Tartt did a great job of weaving together how a life can utterly fall apart before a child even reaches puberty. The second half of the book just fell apart for me. Aside from the characters flaws and personal decisions, it seemed like the end was rushed together, without the care the first half had been treated with. I was very, very disappointed in this because I had felt very attached to the story. There were a couple of places in my copy where the wrong word or misspelling occurred which surprised me. Given all the hype of the book and subsequent prize, I just would not have expected so many problems in it. The 4 I gave it was for the story of young Theo. He deserved it for surviving.

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To the Avid Reader, who has thought recently as I have, "when will I find a truly good book to read again?" The book that will change the way you think about certain things; a book that will stay with you long after you've finished it and possibly started another...is here. Don'T be intimidated by the sheer volume of this book, I promise that it's length and weight will become a calming balm, a weight to keep you in the here and now... Just like our main character Theo and his painting. This Novel is a not unlike a great work of art by a Master Painter in the Renaissance: Bold colors, a portrayal of realism which somehow seems more beautiful or perfect than real life... however realistic it seems, will make you feel more and more as though drifting through a dream. The prose is not too 'flowery', and yet far from dry... Tartt's writing is more like symbolic poetry than as an everyday writer of a typical novel. I am an AVID reader; and as so, can read up to 5 books in a week... However, this novel is so overwhelming beautiful and heart-wrenching that I'm at a loss to decide what to read next or just re-read it! The Goldfinch is one of the BEST books I've read in a Decade... Every time I see a book by a Russian author, an antique piece of wooden furniture, or Dutch paintings from the 1600's...I think of Theo, and therefore this book... Completely unforgettable!

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Theo Decker is on his way to school with his mother when they stop at a museum. What happens next is a life changing moment. Theo meets Welty and Pippa and loses his mother. He is afraid that one action of his could lead to his being accused of looting cultural artifacts. The Goldfinch is a continuous thread throughout the book - a thread which leads Theo to the underworld. But this book is more than just that. Philosophy comes from the most unexpected sources as when Boris says, "Maybe this is one instance where you can't boil down to pure good or pure bad..." "Maybe sometimes the wrong way is the right way." A little bit of everything in this book. I loved reading it.

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Hooray for the Pulitzer committee! Donna Tartt is without doubt one of the most gifted novelists of our era. Twenty years after the publication of her spellbinding, literary-cult-inspiring The Secret History, we finally have The Goldfinch as further proof of Ms. Tartt's incantatory prowess. Far from being a mere plot device, the "rescue" of a small 17th Century Dutch painting serves as a window into the world of its hero's loves and obsessions, his meditations on friendship, loyalty, and of the role of art in our lives. As you are pulled into its vivid whirlwind of suspense, try playing director and cast it as the blockbuster film it will certainly become this fall. From Pulitzer to Oscar in one breath-taking swoop - and the year's greatest read!

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With better editing, this could have been a great read. The characters are well drawn, but there are too many pages of unnecessary details. If you enjoy long, drawn out tales, this is for you.

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This book was a mixed bag for me. Wonderful descriptions of art and the emotions of a man who has been through the wringer of life. Personally, I do not care for the detailed descriptions of the American drug culture.

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Destiny versus the right to choose. Art and the young mind. Intriguing read.

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The Goldfinch is a fierce, philosophical dissection of fate vs. free will. The story follows the struggle of nihilistic protagonist Theodore Decker as he navigates his way through the difficult circumstances life has dealt him. "Sometimes it's about playing a poor hand well." Tartt paints us a picture of a toxic upper class and squandered privilege. Her wit is whip smart and her prose is scintillating. She has matured as a writer and boldly asks the big questions in her brilliant, scathing colloquial. If I say any more I'm afraid I'll give away the exquisite surprises. The Goldfinch does not disappoint, it is an all consuming, euphoric, intellectual delight.