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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Wow I LOVED this journey I actually was sooo hooked on this story and loved watching him grow
I could not finish this book. Literally, this morning before I started this book. I was watching a video of a little 10 yo Syrian boy being interviewed directly after 40 of his family members had been killed by a bomb “falling” off target. I could not get into this book. Clearly written from a point of privilege for the entertainment of other people of privilege. I found it extremely disturbing.
A boy tragically loses his beloved mother in a museum bombing where in the chaos, he steals a famous painting, the Goldfinch. His life thereafter is a constant spiral of turmoil and fear and yet he is chained to the past, not unlike the bird in the painting. How can he amend past sins when he cannot forgive himself?
Throughout the book, Theo is holding on to his childhood innocence ironically by way of a painting which he's obtaining illegally. He takes years to realize he's lost his innocence long before he ever thought he had. His life is unfair, a catastrophe that he cannot escape from. Why do angel mother's die and terrible father's live? In the end, he realizes that good can come from bad, anyone can be redeemed, it is possible to experience joy. Immerse yourself, keep eyes and hearts open, even if you're not happy to be here.
I have such mixed feelings about this book. 100% could have been told in 200 pages, rather than 700+. I listened to it on audiobook and it was 36 hours of my life, and that is with it sped up to 1.5x. I literally could not bear listening to it at normal speed because it was so droning and dull, but speeding it up added a sense of urgency to Theo's inner thoughts that made the whole story feel desperate and anxious. Every minuscule event in this book is stretched out and dissecting, when they could have been done away with completely. I understand the message. I sympathize with Theo. Every character is morally grey, though I think the author thinks she has redeemed them when the story fell short of doing so.
Throughout the book, Theo is holding on to his childhood innocence ironically by way of a painting which he's obtaining illegally. He takes years to realize he's lost his innocence long before he ever thought he had. His life is unfair, a catastrophe that he cannot escape from. Why do angel mother's die and terrible father's live? In the end, he realizes that good can come from bad, anyone can be redeemed, it is possible to experience joy. Immerse yourself, keep eyes and hearts open, even if you're not happy to be here.
I have such mixed feelings about this book. 100% could have been told in 200 pages, rather than 700+. I listened to it on audiobook and it was 36 hours of my life, and that is with it sped up to 1.5x. I literally could not bear listening to it at normal speed because it was so droning and dull, but speeding it up added a sense of urgency to Theo's inner thoughts that made the whole story feel desperate and anxious. Every minuscule event in this book is stretched out and dissecting, when they could have been done away with completely. I understand the message. I sympathize with Theo. Every character is morally grey, though I think the author thinks she has redeemed them when the story fell short of doing so.
I am giving up. I got to the stage, where every time I picked it up I would squeeze it to see how far I had left to go. It's a shame, well-written and absorbing but oh so painfully slow.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book… but wished it hadn't dragged on in some parts.
I enjoyed the writing style and story-telling, however I'm not really sure why the author chose to tell this story. Even though it didn't resonate with me, I respect how Tartt really explored each character's development, not skipping over explanations just to cut down on page-length - actually showing the consequences of the characters' actions. It was definitely long, but I would have faulted the author had it been 300 pages shorter.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hands down, the best book I have ever read. I love Dostoyevsky, and his influence is obvious throughout, but Tartt brings a modern twist to him, with the most beautiful writing. There’s also drama and intrigue, far more of a thrilling plot than anything from Dostoyevsky.
Think Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, combined together beautifully for the modern day and you are somewhere, somewhere close to imagining the beauty of this book.
Think Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, combined together beautifully for the modern day and you are somewhere, somewhere close to imagining the beauty of this book.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Čarobna knjiga, odličan stil pisanja.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kolejna książka, która trafiła na moją listę 5 gwiazdek. Pomimo ciężkiej tematyki i wielu wątków, które w żadnym stopniu nie odnosiły się do mojego życia, byłam w stanie mocno wciągnąć się w myśli i rozterki głównego bohatera. Bardzo podobał mi się styl w jakim została ta książka napisana, a przemyślenia bohatera nadawały historii tego rodzaju głębi, który lubię najbardziej.
Poruszała ona wiele ważnych wątków, jak utrata bliskiej osoby, uzależnienie, traumy, stracone dzieciństwo. Główny bohater momentami irytował mnie swoim zachowaniem, będąc typem człowieka, który martwi się o najbardziej niestworzone rzeczy, ale i tak potrafiłam zrozumieć co po niektóre, a przynajmniej wyobrażałam sobie trudności z jakimi musiał się w swojej głowie zmagać.
Temat przewodni sztuki i obrazu Strzygła dodawał całej historii piękna i zachęcał do przemyśleń. Nie jestem osobą specjalnie pochłonięta sztuką i ogólnym artyzmem, ale nawet ja miałam momenty, gdzie dany przedmiot czy krajobraz zatrzymały mnie na moment, dając mi poczuć głębokie uczucie piękna, którego nie dało się ubrać w słowa.
Historia, pomimo ciężkich tematów potrafi też momentami być piękna i czysta w swoich przemyśleniach. Na pewno jest warta przeczytania.
Poruszała ona wiele ważnych wątków, jak utrata bliskiej osoby, uzależnienie, traumy, stracone dzieciństwo. Główny bohater momentami irytował mnie swoim zachowaniem, będąc typem człowieka, który martwi się o najbardziej niestworzone rzeczy, ale i tak potrafiłam zrozumieć co po niektóre, a przynajmniej wyobrażałam sobie trudności z jakimi musiał się w swojej głowie zmagać.
Temat przewodni sztuki i obrazu Strzygła dodawał całej historii piękna i zachęcał do przemyśleń. Nie jestem osobą specjalnie pochłonięta sztuką i ogólnym artyzmem, ale nawet ja miałam momenty, gdzie dany przedmiot czy krajobraz zatrzymały mnie na moment, dając mi poczuć głębokie uczucie piękna, którego nie dało się ubrać w słowa.
Historia, pomimo ciężkich tematów potrafi też momentami być piękna i czysta w swoich przemyśleniach. Na pewno jest warta przeczytania.