Olivia Morgan answers “I'm 75% of the way through this book and...”

Stephanie asked this question about The Goldfinch:

I'm 75% of the way through this book and am really struggling with it. I'm finding it incredibly drawn out for little reward - is it worth finishing?

Olivia Morgan The writer is without doubt talented. And overall, this book is chocked full of wonderful writing and descriptions of her character's. However, it is …moreThe writer is without doubt talented. And overall, this book is chocked full of wonderful writing and descriptions of her character's. However, it is so slow and heavy, like winter sap being drawn out of beautiful things, that you wonder if you will get around to enjoying the fruits of your labor. At over 700 pages, it is a nod to Tolstoy in either Anna Karenina or a light War and Peace. Her insistent copying of Dickens is over played as well, Pip is Pippa; The annoying waxing and waning romantic obsession quite like that of Great Expectations. And there are way too many other references as well, in my own opinion, it is one thing to admire and pay respect to your favorite classic writer, it is quite another to borrow so many names or concepts that the author losses her own voice and water downs the uniqueness of her own novel.

Sadly, I also felt like she over described every minute detail, literally leaving very little to the readers imagination or speculation. Where is the fun in that? Books are supposed to provide character development, not neurosis. A healthy revision would streamline the overall flow, at most, 400 max pages, with several changed names and less Dickens would be an outstanding 5-star book. (less)

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