A review by amberlen
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

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

2.25

Uff, this book dragged, y'all. 
The only thing that makes this somewhat bearable is Donna Tartt's writing style because her sentences just flow into each other effortlessly and beautifully. But even then it took stamina to get through this doorstopper.
Add to this that this is one of the most depressing books I've ever read in my life.
Theo's teenage years in Vegas?? Just watchin a thirteen-year-old numb himself with alcohol and get taken advantage of by his Dad??
I just wanted to curl up and sob. I also don't like books where one dreadful thing happens after another with no chance to come up for air once in a while.
And Theo, depressed and traumatised, just makes bad decision upon bad decision. When he went to Amsterdam to voluntarily retrieve the painting that has plagued him for years was when I lost it. Stay home, dude!!
Technically, I get why the story progresses how it does, it brings across the overall message of 'Life is suffering but there's beauty in it as well and we just have to live it and make it worthwhile' but I just didn't vibe with any of it. For a story that metaphysical and emotionally distressing, it did not really touch me that much.

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