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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can't believe I read this whole thing - I wasn't sure if I would be able to stick with it, but from page one I was absolutely hooked. Throughout the latter half, I was wondering whether I would give it a 4 or 5 star rating. Especially the middle 300 pages or so - I felt like a LOT could have been left out or summarized a bit better. But the last chapters really provide insight as to why it was written that way, and it did the trick for me! I hate Boris, though, NGL.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Murder
The Goldfinch is a page-turner, which is good because it has a lot of pages. Even though certain characters may be drawn a little too broadly, and a few plot twists smack of contrivance, Tartt depicts, poignantly and elegantly, the lives of damaged people, to which, in some ways, all of us can relate. What else kept me reading? Threads of intrigue and turmoil (heists, betrayal, fraud, loves, addiction) that pulsate and intersect throughout the book.
The end of the book is my least favorite part, but ironically one of the concluding pages includes my favorite quote:
"[I]t ends badly for all of us, even the happiest of us, and ... we lose everything that matters in the end - and yet ...despite all this, as cruelly as the game is stacked, ... it's possible to play it with a kind of joy[.]"
Enough said.
The end of the book is my least favorite part, but ironically one of the concluding pages includes my favorite quote:
"[I]t ends badly for all of us, even the happiest of us, and ... we lose everything that matters in the end - and yet ...despite all this, as cruelly as the game is stacked, ... it's possible to play it with a kind of joy[.]"
Enough said.
It only took me absolutely forever, but we did it!! Love Tartt's prose, but I fear this book was long and I feel like we lost the plot at times. By the end I couldn't necessarily figure out all the philosophical stuff she was trying to say but I did like the messaging of 'we all die.' Even if it was presented quite depressingly, it was quite invigorating. I did enjoy the read, it just took its time (partially my fault lol).
I feel honored and touched to have entered the lives of these characters. I couldn’t not think of this book when I didn’t have it in my hands. Going to have to grieve finishing this one.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tartt does an excellent job of creating a hazy atmosphere full of dark, dust and much deserved moments of light. I think her prose and character work is amazing. However I didn't give a 5th star because the philosophy and conclusion feel juvenile. Taking almost 800 pages to show this message only to reiterate directly at the end felt condescending.