The Goldfinch – Donna Tartt
100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: [adapted from the dustjacket] Aged thirteen, Theo Decker, son of a devoted mother and a reckless, largely absent father, survives an accident that otherwise tears his life apart. He is tormented by an unbearable longing for his mother, and down the years clings to the thing that most reminds him of her: a small, strangely captivating painting that ultimately draws him into the criminal underworld.
Expectation: A modern “Great American Novel.”
Reality: A captivating and gorgeously written novel that, at times, asks too much of the reader.
Recommended For: Fans of short- and long-list literature.
Why I Read It: It was one of the most-lauded novels of the 2010s.
My Take:
It will take me a while to digest all the nuances of this book, but my initial thought is wow, that was a lot.
Did I like it? Unequivocally, yes. Will it become one of my favorites? Ask me in a few months.
Since this has been out in the world for quite some time, I won't rehash details, but I do want to share a few thoughts:
It is way too long and that's coming from a person that doesn't mind an epic as long as it has strong characters — as "The Goldfinch" does — and a clear purpose, which is missing from "The Goldfinch" in several chapters.
I hated Boris. There, I said it. I realize he is beloved by some, but the sections of the book I liked least were the ones where he was prominent. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing and manipulated Theo for decades.
Speaking of Boris and Theo, the hints of a romantic relationship (see pg. 300) seemed organic at the time it was introduced, but now I wonder if it was for shock value. The idea of drunken, carnal passion between the two isn’t far off - after all they were both starved for attention - and these types of things do happen between young people exploring sexuality. However, if Tartt would’ve circled back to this later in the book as a reason for Theo’s loyalty to Boris despite the ways he used him, I would’ve thought its inclusion in the story made a lot more sense than the brief page time it is given. I don’t think either character is queer per se, and there’s not many representations of this type of sexual exploration available in mainstream literature, so it feels like a missed opportunity.
Why didn't the Barbours fight to keep Theo with them, when clearly his father and Xandra were only interested in one thing? And why does Theo just accept them back into his life like nothing happened between them? I'd be bitter as hell!
Am I the only one not enamored by old money and society plots? If you've read one, you've read them all.
We needed more of Hobie's backstory.
The last 50 or so pages, Theo's retrospective on his life, are absolutely captivating. If "The Goldfinch" was about 300-pages shorter, I think other passages where Tartt is introspective would shine through more brightly.
I loved all the ways Tartt describes the human connection to art and how it impacts people in different ways.
Negatives aside, "The Goldfinch" is still mesmerizing in a frustratingly high-class sort of way. There were times I rolled my eyes, others I cringed and many, many more where I was transfixed by the world Tartt created. Plus, the art -- oh, I loved the art.
"The Goldfinch" is divisive for sure, but definitely a novel everyone should try to read. But do yourself a favor and skip the horrendous film adaptation. Even watching free on Amazon Prime isn’t worth the price.
As a post-script, I’m posting this review almost 18-months after finishing “The Goldfinch,” and I can say it is a story that sticks with you. Each time I walk into a museum, I can’t help but think of Theo’s experiences.
My husband absolutely adored this novel, and while I appreciate the talent it takes to craft such a rich story, I still standby my initial criticisms. Tartt is one of those authors I’m willing to try again, but she is a “right mood” type of writer for me.
I did listen to this audiobook at a time when my work commute was insanely long (about 75-minutes each way). I don’t recall much of the narration, but I will say this book is best suited for long spans of uninterrupted listening.
Rating (story): 4/5 stars
Rating (narration): 4/5
Formats: Audiobook (library loan)
Dates read: November 28 – December 11, 2019
Multi-tasking: Okay. Enjoying the beauty of Tartt’s writing requires a lot of concentration, so best for more mindless activities.
