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A review by tyler12313
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book at parts, and the times I didn't, I appreciated the work put in to make every single location as lived-in and real as possible. While there are parts where the descriptions become too in-depth and drag, I can't fault the author for this. I really connected to Theo's different stages of life and cities, from New York, Texas and The Netherlands
This is the longest book I've read that isn't a fantasy, which sounds embarrassing, but around 2022 I wanted to branch out into more literature, and at the time this was a completely blind buy. I'm glad I've read it, and the length of the book allows you to get into Theo's head as if you've followed him his whole life - as if you know him.
The characters of this book are its biggest strength, with the father figure of Hobie introducing the world of antiquity to Boris, the Russian boy who shapes Theo's view on the world and whilst being a corrupting figure in his childhood becomes his closest relationship, understanding him the most. The Barbour's acting as his surrogate family and mirroring the tragedy of his real family.
The themes of this to me are about how certain individuals, especially objects, are able to alter someone's life so drastically that it completely changes the course of their lives, for better or worse, and in the end it's our own fault, because the heart can't help what it wants. It poses a great question; is it better to resist what we really want to maintain a normal, happy life or do we make the choice to chase after what we really want, potentially going to depths we can't come back from? In the end, it really all comes down to that picture of The Goldfinch.
This is the longest book I've read that isn't a fantasy, which sounds embarrassing, but around 2022 I wanted to branch out into more literature, and at the time this was a completely blind buy. I'm glad I've read it, and the length of the book allows you to get into Theo's head as if you've followed him his whole life - as if you know him.
The characters of this book are its biggest strength, with the father figure of Hobie introducing the world of antiquity to Boris, the Russian boy who shapes Theo's view on the world and whilst being a corrupting figure in his childhood becomes his closest relationship, understanding him the most. The Barbour's acting as his surrogate family and mirroring the tragedy of his real family.
The themes of this to me are about how certain individuals, especially objects, are able to alter someone's life so drastically that it completely changes the course of their lives, for better or worse, and in the end it's our own fault, because the heart can't help what it wants. It poses a great question; is it better to resist what we really want to maintain a normal, happy life or do we make the choice to chase after what we really want, potentially going to depths we can't come back from? In the end, it really all comes down to that picture of The Goldfinch.