The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Genre: Literary Fiction

Blurb (on back of book): Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 2014

Aged thirteen, Theo Decker, son of a devoted mother and a reckless, largely absent father, survives an accident that otherwise tears his life apart. Alone and rudderless in New York, he is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. He is tormented by an unbearable longing for his mother, and down the ye
ars clings to the thing that most reminds him of her: a small, strangely captivating painting that ultimately draws him into the criminal underworld. As he grows up, Theo learns to glide between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love - and his talisman, the painting, places him at the centre of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.

The Goldfinch is a haunted odyssey through present-day America and a drama of enthralling power. Combining unforgettably vivid characters and thrilling suspense, it is a beautiful, addictive triumph - a sweeping story of loss and obsession, of survival and self-invention, of the deepest mysteries of love, identity and fate.

MY OPINION: ****

So. I’ve been on hiatus from writing reviews for a rather lengthy amount of time. I have been going through the busiest year of my life and honestly just dropped the ball on writing book reviews. However, looking back at my repertoire of reviews across the past EIGHT years has made me realize I can’t just end it all now with no hesitations. I am thus back and ready to write super short reviews on everything I read this year.

I honestly don’t remember much of this book. I listened to it on audiobook right after finishing TSH and I vividly remember not loving it as much. I think Tartt is one of the best writers I’ve read from in the literary fiction genre, but I also don’t read too much literary fiction, so what does that title even mean?

I found this book far too long for its own good but I can also simultaneously understand why she made it so long. I would definitely consider revisiting this book but I don’t think I would reread it in its entirety any time soon.

It’s one of those books without a REAL plot which I have historically strongly disliked. However this book focuses so much more on the characters and their interplay within the novel. We follow from the perspective of a boy whose name I cannot remember but it begins from his childhood and ends with him remarkably older and changed as a result of the relationships he forms with the people around him after the tragic death of his mother.

I like character driven books to a point. If you’re someone who loves books like that, this one is definitely for you. I will say this segues away from the dark academic genre Donna Tartt is so lauded for in book social media but there is still an emphasis on art and intellectualism.

I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy literary fiction and liked Tartt’s other work. However, it’s one of those where you don’t necessarily ever want to put yourself through it again. Remarkably forgettable given how long it was but also it’s been several months so that is also on me.

I’m ending my tradition of putting character and element lists mainly because I genuinely don't remember enough from all the books I've read this year.

Main Character: Theo