Whether you’re going to like Donna Tartt’s 771-page novel depends on whether you can tolerate the narration of a teen-age narrator for all those pages. A tragedy strikes young Theo and he becomes a semi-orphan. Theo leaves New York City for Vegas and readers are treated to a couple hundred pages of drinking vodka and beer, vomiting, smoking pot, sniffing glue, and child abuse. Theo returns to New York City but then gets hooked on Oxycontin and other opiates. During this whole story Theo hides a priceless painting, The Goldfinch painted by Carel Fabritius in 1654. Stephen King’s rave review of The Goldfinch in the New York Times Book Review swayed me into breaking my rule never to read a Big Fat Book during a semester. Yesterday, Bill Crider commented: “But I could read six or seven Gold Medals in the time it would take to read this.” That’s exactly the feeling I experienced while reading The Goldfinch. GRADE: C
Pass.
I have no problem with big books (I’ve read enough of them), but I think I have a problem with Donna Tartt–or at least with the rapturous press she receives. I enjoyed her book The Secret History, but other than being very long and peopled with impossible teenagers who knew Greek and talked about philosophy an’ all, I didn’t get the reason why it was singled out for such high praise (as an aside, I think Tana French did a much better job if the “young people living together in a special bubble–happily until something happens” theme in The Likeness). And when it comes to Stephen King and pop culture, I find his recommendations are hit or miss for me. So, all this is a long way (a Tarttian way) of saying I probably won’t be investing the time in this one.
Bob, you’ve made a wise decision.
Deb, loved your Tarttian comment! You’re right about reviewers loving Donna Tartt’s novels. But this reviewer didn’t like THE GOLDFINCH much. Not worth the time or effort.
I’m sorry to hear it didn’t turn out to be a great book, but I’m glad to know I won’t be missing much by not reading it.
Thanks for the warning, George! Instead I’m reading a book you did like, HANDLING THE TRUTH by Beth Kephart.
I also agree with Deb’s comment on Stephen King – while I agree with many of his likes, a lot of others …not so much.
Bill, your comment about Gold Medal books echoed in my head while I was slogging my way through THE GOLDFINCH.
Jeff, you will really enjoy HANDLING THE TRUTH. Like you, I’ve found Stephen King’s recommendations hit-and-miss. His take on THE GOLDFINCH was a miss.
When a book comes (in my awareness of the world) out of nowhere and starts getting hyped here, there, and all over, I’m immediately wary. It’s not a sign of quality, readability or originality. Before yours, I’ve read one sky-high review, two so-so reviews. Yours I consider a so-so minus. I recently read AN ARMY AT DAWN which was a little longer than this one, but it had the redeeming qualities of being interesting non-fiction, well written and insightful. But then I guess that’s how a book wins a Pulitzer Prize. I suppose this one will make the author a nice sum of money, depending on what kind of contract she has with her publisher, but that doesn’t justify an overly long, mostly boring book about an unpleasant subject. I suppose she got her head full of “writing literature” and all.
Rick, I was disappointed in THE GOLDFINCH. Donna Tartt is a talented writer, but the characters and story didn’t hold my interest. I had to force myself to finish this tome. I could have been reading Rick Atkinson’s WWII books instead. But, Stephen King’s rave review lured me into reading THE GOLDFINCH.
Phil is reading it. I will let you know. Megan bailed halfway through.
Patti, I felt like bailing after 300 pages of THE GOLDFINCH. But I stuck with it until the end. Disappointing. I’ll be interested in Phil’s reaction.
We have become a nation of lazy readers. People who prefer to read ‘book a day’ probably are not the ideal audience for this meticulous, beautifully crafted book.
Michael, there are lazy readers and there are discerning readers. I thought THE GOLDFINCH was tedious and dull. But, your mileage may vary.
Hated it. Threw in the towell at page 600. I didn’t care about a single character or event in this.