The Goldfinch in WACKY READING CHALLENGES

Oct 04, 2015 Book Concierge rated it liked it

Shelves: literary-fiction, survival, coming-of-age, audio, new-york, book-club, concierge, library, crime, art

Book on CD performed by David Pittu
3.5****

From the book jacket: It begins with a boy. Theo Decker, a thirteen-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don’t know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysterio Book on CD performed by David Pittu
3.5****

From the book jacket: It begins with a boy. Theo Decker, a thirteen-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don’t know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the criminal underworld.

My Reaction:
There is much about this novel to like, and quite a few things not to like. In the end I’m struggling with how to rate it because of these conflicting issues.

I like the way Tartt writes, particularly the way she so vividly depicts the scenes in this book. Her descriptions of the Barbour’s apartment, Hobie’s antique shop, the wasteland of an abandoned Las Vegas suburban development, or Amsterdam at Christmas all put me squarely into the landscape of the novel. For example, here is Theo’s reaction on seeing his room at his father’s house: ”the kind of room where a call girl or stewardess would be murdered on television.”

I also really found myself caught up in the basic plot – Theo’s coming-of-age. I liked how Tartt explored the effects of one violent act on the survivors, how Theo was left to negotiate his way through life pretty much on his own, and how easily he fell prey to bad influences. There was many a time when listening to the CD that I’d yell out loud – “Don’t do that!” I did not really sympathize with him or like him; but I understood, intellectually, how his circumstances would lead to his behavior. I wanted desperately for some adult to rescue this poor motherless (and for all intents and purposes, fatherless) child. But then …

I got really tired of the repeated bad choices. How often did Tartt have to describe how Boris and Theo got drunk, laughed hysterically, passed out, stole stuff, etc. I got it the first time – they were without supervision and basically grew up as feral kids. I couldn’t help but wonder where the novel was going in that long Las Vegas interlude. And then Theo returns to New York and to a fairly stable influence, the kindly Hobie, who takes him in and gives him an honest trade in his antiques & restoration business. But despite this apparent good influence, Theo never seems to mature, except in age.

And let’s just talk about the painting for a minute. I’m not sure what Tartt was trying to say here. Does art transform? Is obsession an understandable reason for living? There were long sections of the book where the painting isn’t even mentioned, and apparently not thought about by Theo.

Which brings me to the ending. Tartt takes us on a wild ride into a criminal underworld that had me on the edge of my seat for about 100 pages. Then … well I don’t want to spoil the resolution for anyone, so I won’t say what happens, but I was very unhappy with the way the characters got out of that mess. And for the last several pages I get some long philosophical treatise, and the novel is finished. I have no problem with ambiguous endings, in fact I rather like them most of the time. But this time? I have to admit that when the audio ended I said – aloud – “Is that it?!”

David Pittu does a superb job narrating the audio version of this novel. He has great pacing, and his skill with voices made the characters come to life. I particularly liked how he voiced Hobie, and he did a credible job with the women as well. I was confused about Boris, though, because Tartt describes his accent as a cross between Aussie and Russian, and yet Pittu seemed to lose the Aussie almost immediately. But that’s a small quibble. I’d give Pittu 5* for his narration. ...more

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Mar 23, 2018 Jody rated it really liked it

Shelves: pulitzer-winner, 1001-before-you-die, aty-2018, woman-author, owned-books

I got this book not long after it came out, and it's been sitting on my shelf taunting me be totally honest, and say that when I looked at the picture of Donna Tartt on the back of the book ... well, she looks like someone who would write books that I hated. Irrational, yes, but there you have it.

I was so wrong. I really, really, really liked this. I loved the characters (even though they were almost all not exactly likeable), and I loved the writing. She had me totally drawn in, and although I ...more

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Jan 19, 2016 Olivermagnus rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2023, fiction, zmar-2023

This is the story of New Yorker, Theo Decker, and The Goldfinch, a painting by Dutch master Carel Fabritius. We first meet Theo at the age of 13 when he and his mother are involved in an explosion at the Metropolitan Museum. Unknown to him, she has been killed. In the daze of the explosion he takes a priceless painting of a small captive goldfinch with him to protect the object his mother loves so much. As the days go by it becomes harder and harder for Theo to think of a way to return it. In hi This is the story of New Yorker, Theo Decker, and The Goldfinch, a painting by Dutch master Carel Fabritius. We first meet Theo at the age of 13 when he and his mother are involved in an explosion at the Metropolitan Museum. Unknown to him, she has been killed. In the daze of the explosion he takes a priceless painting of a small captive goldfinch with him to protect the object his mother loves so much. As the days go by it becomes harder and harder for Theo to think of a way to return it. In his grief Theo's life is taken over by his possession of the Goldfinch. As we follow Theo on his life journey, through all the problems he will encounter, this small painting becomes a talisman of his dead mother, something solid and absolute to remind him of her.

If you've read Tartt's other books, Secret History and Little Friend, you already know her signature is the long, detailed prose that fully involve the reader in the story. This engrossing and sprawling novel is almost 800 pages of Theo's journey through the culture of America. Locations are so real you can visualize them long after you've completed the book. Her description of Theo's life in a deserted Las Vegas housing development completely matches Theo's feelings of abandonment.

Told from a first person perspective looking backward, Theo's story is intrinsically constructed. In some cases it may remind you a bit of Dickens, not only in the long, descriptive narrative, but Theo who evokes themes of Oliver Twist and Great Expectations, but this is definitely a modern tale filled with all sorts of twists and turns and wonderful characters who come and go throughout Theo's life.

I felt like this novel was just too long. So, if you don't want to commit to a sprawling novel, this book is divided into small, almost novella sized chapters that will let you read as much or as little as you like in one sitting. Theo and his diverse cast of companions are complex, appealing and filled with vivid detail. I was immersed in his life and his story. I love this type of novel and highly recommend it to anyone who does want to invest some time in a story they won't be able to forget. ...more

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Nov 08, 2013 Pamela rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, pulitzer-fiction

This is a book so beautifully written that some parts made me cry and others made me laugh just from the use of words. I learned early on that any sentence that began "It was as if....", would have within in some wonderful metaphor. Donna Tartt"s ability with language is very like watching an artist paint a scene right in front of you. It comes to life as you read.

The story is actually good, too. I liked the people in this book. Even the ones I found hard to believe in; the ones I had to remind ...more

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Feb 20, 2014 Brindi Michele rated it did not like it

Shelves: personal-interest-adult, abandoned

I made it to around 300 pages and I couldn't do it any more. Oh, this is awful. I couldn't tolerate the cranky teen, finding-yourself part, and it wasn't even done well. I definitely agree with one reviewer, "Who are you people giving this 5 stars?!" And the part I did get through, I found myself mostly skimming and just reading the dialogue. I've been in a bad book fix lately, and this didn't help.... ...more

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Nov 21, 2015 Tien marked it as lost-interest · review of another edition

Shelves: literature

dnf :(

Have really enjoyed The Secret History so I thought I'd give this a go but been struggling to keep on listening to the audiobook for a week and I can't hack it anymore @65%

Maybe another time... ...more

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Nov 23, 2013 Erin rated it it was ok

Shelves: fiction

Ms. Tartt fills The Goldfinch with Great Expectations and Charles Dickens references. Unfortunately, I am reminded far more of Catcher in the Rye and J.D. Salinger. I have never been a fan of the self-indulgent Holden Caulfield, and I am not a fan of his 21st Century doppelganger, Theo Decker. This is not compelling literature; it is 700 odd pages of characters no one would want anywhere near them. In all honesty, the second star in this rating is for Boris, the only character with any heft. I l ...more

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