Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

341 reviews

theprinceofdenmark's review

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

the best book about grief and loss since catcher in the rye.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Blood, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Stalking

clangenskiold's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I was ready to fall in love with this book since I enjoyed The Secret History and was recommended this book many times. However, I found the plot way too slow and detailed, which made it a difficult read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Drug use

grcompain's review

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

While I don’t think this book is for everyone I love this book because Tartt writes in a way that touches me so personally. The in-depth over detailed descriptions and pages describing the mental perspective of the characters moving through PTSD and depression and substance abuse is so detailed and spans so many years. It felt like such an authentic encapsulation of a life. While I don’t think the book is perfect, I loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, Infidelity, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Alcoholism, Addiction, Vomit, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Death, Child death, Blood, and Alcohol

kellyz's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A profoundly emotional story but tough to get through at times. I don't fault needing to put it down and come back later because Tartt's writing draws you back in instantly when you do return, and you always will. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Violence, Addiction, Mental illness, Classism, and Toxic relationship

spartanjess's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The character building that the author, Donna Tartt, does in the pages of The Goldfinch is truly phenomenal. She beautifully weaves a story together with characters that are complex and relatable. I found myself feeling a wide array of emotions both cheering for characters or wanting to yell “no, don’t do that.” I really enjoyed the prose and storytelling in this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Gun violence

Moderate: Death of parent

denijaaa_s's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

man likās, ka beigas būs kaut kas graujošs, pavisam negaidīts, bet tā nebija, kas rada šo grāmatu kopumā kā ne ļoti sliktu, bet arī ne ļoti labu. 
no sākuma var nobīties no 700+ lapaspusēm, bet ir sajūta, ka lasot grāmatu, skaties filmu - bagātīga valoda, visi varoņi ir dzīvi, skaidri redzami. 
protams, stāsts par to, kā draugi var ietekmēt tavu dzīvi - šoreiz es teiktu, ka boriss teodora dzīvi ietekmēja negatīvā ziņā, un es šīs viņu savstarpējās attiecības neuzskatu kā draudzību. 
teodora dzīve bija ļoti skumja, likās, ka zemāk un sliktāk nemaz nevar krist, bet kļuva arvien sliktāk un sliktāk. mazliet radās sajūta, ka sākoties grāmatas otrajai pusei, rakstniece sāka mazliet steigties, jo posms no 13 līdz 15 gadu vecumam bija izstiepts, un tad bija ātrs pārleciens uz teodora 20+ gadiem. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Grief, and Drug use

Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Blood, Cursing, and Alcoholism

birdsongandbooks's review

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcoholism

moonpeach's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Vomit, Gun violence, Grief, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt

angelenelittle's review

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

Moderate: Drug use, Death of parent, Violence, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

retswerb's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A masterpiece of a book, but maybe not entirely for me. Theo is believable and incredibly fully embodied, a character I feel I know like few others. But the pacing is so glacial (except for the jarring skips ahead) and the book so long, I couldn’t help but look forward to being done. An extra quarter star for Hobie alone, a character so lovable and trustworthy that I couldn’t help but hold my breath and hope he remained true.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Drug abuse, and Death of parent