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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
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.
I absolutely loved this book. Donna Tartt's writing is clever and poignant. For anyone who has ever worked with children who have experienced trauma, the book is a haunting indicator of the profound and lasting impacts of such an experience- especially on a child. This is a book I will remember.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to give this the benefit of the doubt, I mean it’s a Pulitzer Prize winning novel after all. Who ever awarded that prize must have read a different version of the book, translated to a different language.
This is a burdensome book to read, and not in a way that can be spun into a positive. I have never read such poorly written slop in my life. Run on sentences, fragments, sentences constantly beginning with “And” and many other literary failures that I am appalled this garbage was published. There are constant asides as the author piles on disparate thoughts into a single sentence with such frequency that I almost felt like I was drowning, coming up for a gulp of air before going back under. It is so bad I found a sentence that had 2 different asides in it and frequently there would be single sentences that would have an aside composed of MULTIPLE sentences. Don’t even get me started on constant sentences with multiple semicolons and even colons AND semicolons. The descriptions careen between vivid and absolute drivel. This was such a painful read first chapter in I decided to read some reviews, which I normally don’t do, hoping the writing improves. According to the reviews I’ve read, it does not so throwing this turd into DNF pile, complete trash, and unreadable in my opinion. Hope the author has a day job.
This is a burdensome book to read, and not in a way that can be spun into a positive. I have never read such poorly written slop in my life. Run on sentences, fragments, sentences constantly beginning with “And” and many other literary failures that I am appalled this garbage was published. There are constant asides as the author piles on disparate thoughts into a single sentence with such frequency that I almost felt like I was drowning, coming up for a gulp of air before going back under. It is so bad I found a sentence that had 2 different asides in it and frequently there would be single sentences that would have an aside composed of MULTIPLE sentences. Don’t even get me started on constant sentences with multiple semicolons and even colons AND semicolons. The descriptions careen between vivid and absolute drivel. This was such a painful read first chapter in I decided to read some reviews, which I normally don’t do, hoping the writing improves. According to the reviews I’ve read, it does not so throwing this turd into DNF pile, complete trash, and unreadable in my opinion. Hope the author has a day job.