Over the last few days both here and on twitter – I have been involved in a number of conversations about this book. I am conscious that I may have inadvertently put some people off reading it which is certainly not what I had intended to do. I think the problem with books long anticipated and dare I say hyped – is that they can often lead to disappointment – even when they are good. The Goldfinch is good – it is very good – aspects of it really excellent – however it was a four star read for me rather than the five star read I had convinced myself it would be. There are parts of the book – that really could, and maybe should be shorter – there is a relentlessness to sections of the book that can get a bit wearing.
As the novel opens New Yorker Theodore Decker is thirteen years old living alone with his beloved mother, having been abandoned by his feckless, drunken father. On the way to a meeting at Theo’s school –to discuss his suspension – Theo and his mother end up at New York’s Metropolitan Museum. As they move through the galleries toward his mother’s favourite picture – The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius 1654 Theo catches sight of a young girl about his own age with bright red hair, and an elderly man Theo assumes is her grandfather (he’s her uncle in fact). In the moments before Theo’s life changes forever – he has no idea what impact these two strangers will have upon his life.
An explosion rips through the museum, Theo and his mother have been separated – and Theo find himself sitting with the old man he saw earlier as he dies. In his last moments the old man presses a ring into Theo’s hand and gives him an address to take it to. When Theo eventually finds his way out of the horror and chaos that the museum has become, horribly disorientated terrified for his mother – he leaves with more than a strangers signet ring – for in his bag is a rare and beautiful piece of art –The Goldfinch. At this point the novel is fantastic – the sense of horror and disorientation is brilliantly done. Donna Tartt understands the gut wrenching terror to a child at the very idea of losing their mother – and the shattering life changing grief numbness and desolation when the nightmare comes true. Theo’s yearning for his mother is heartrendingly palpable – throughout the novel Theo returns to the park bench he considers to be hers. The painting of course becomes a talisman – his last link to her.
“Caring too much for objects can destroy you. Only—if you care for a thing enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn’t it? And isn’t the whole point of things—beautiful things—that they connect you to some larger beauty?
For the next fourteen years Theo’s life is driven by two obsessions – The Goldfinch and Pippa – the girl at the museum who he eventually meets when he takes the ring back months later. Sheltered by a Park Avenue family for several months, bewildered by his new life – Theo starts to visit the address the old man gave him, an antique shop – where he meets Hobie – a furniture restorer and an artist himself in a way. Theo’s appalling father turns up almost a year after the explosion, and Theo is uprooted again – finding himself in an almost bare house on the edge of Las Vegas – living with his father and his girlfriend Xandra. Virtually unsupervised and haunted by memories of his mother and obsessing about the painting – Theo’s life descends into an existence of drink, drugs and petty crime with new best friend Boris – who Tartt manages to even make slightly humorous in the midst of his malevolence. This section of the book – maybe around 200 pages or so drags a bit, there is bit too much detail – it feels unnecessarily padded out.
Back in New York, Theo fully embraces the world of antiques managing to move effortlessly between the homes of the wealthy and the criminal underworld. However Theo’s obsession with a small seventeenth century painting threatens to draw him deeper into a frighteningly dark world. Fourteen years after he stumbled out of the aftermath of that explosion, Theo is still in thrall to a painting that finally just before Christmas one year takes him to Amsterdam where both it and Theo’s fates are likely to be decided. Some of what happens to Theo and Boris in Amsterdam is at best unlikely – and I know some people think the ending weak – I wouldn’t go quite that far, in fact I rather liked the philosophical wonderings that Tartt leaves us with after all the other matters of the novel have been satisfactorily dealt with.
This is a huge, rip roaring stomach churning ride of a novel, big bold themes and memorable characters – there are images that may remain in my head for a long time – although the one that lingers longest maybe that of a small bird chained by the foot against a plain wall. Donna Tartt’s characters are extraordinarily real, flawed, damaged people set against huge canvases of New York, and Las Vegas – even Amsterdam – the sense of place is always excellent. I can’t help but think this would make a very good film, and I won’t be surprised to see it a box office hit in a few years. Of course one of the most extraordinary things about this novel is the length of time Donna Tartt took preparing for and writing it, she is undoubtedly a very gifted writer.
Yet to read this hard to comment but does seem by all accounts a return to form form Tartt
It is certainly worth reading – I do hope you enjoy it when you get around to it.
Good points, Ali. I think it is a difficult book to discuss without putting people off. Like you, I found it a 4 star, rather than a 5 star, experience. I enjoyed the Las Vegas section – and I think it was needed to explain something that comes later (vague to avoid spoilers). However, I was one of the people that didn’t like the ending! I’ve come to think that it’s the sign of a good book if it leaves us discussing and disagreeing!
I love the fact that so many people are discussing this book – it does sort of add to the experience of reading it.
Good review, not a book I’ve ever fancied, though, so you’ve not put me off. I don’t think many books can live up to the hype, though, can they. Not all round everywhere hype – friends pressing books on one is a different matter!
Sometimes the hype/discussion can add to the experience in a funny way – but it can of course do the book and its writer a huge diservice.
Absolutely agree with you about hype, Ali. Far too much of it about. I’m glad that you didn’t let it get in the way of a very thoughtful review. I also think Naomi is right – the sign of a good book is how much discussion it provokes and I’m sure most authors would also agree. For me, although far from flawless it was well worth the 11-year wait.
Yes, I am amazed at how Tartt must have spent with these characters and images in her head.
at how long I meant.
Yesterday I remarked on Twitter that this book was like a “macabre circus,” and sometimes it seems as if the show will never end. Yet I’m compelled by it, and mostly by the very first impression of Theo who writes on page 7: “When I lost her (his mother) I lost sight of any landmark that might have led me someplace happier…I’ve never met anyone who made me feel loved the way she did.” That is the image that has haunted me throughout all 771 pages.
Oh yes I remember that – I think the feeling of loss is so wonderfully done – that never forgotten longing to get back someone that is lost does indeed haunt the entire novel.
It’s difficult to avoid the hype of something like this – and I *loved* The Secret History, despite all the hype. I didn’t like The Little Friend very much but you haven’t put me off – I *will* read this, even if not immediately!
🙂 I loved The Secret History too, and although I liked The Little Friend it didn’t wow me as much. I’m glad I haven’t put you off.
You already know what I thought of the book: I loved the beginning, liked the Las Vegas part, tolerated the Europe part, and hated the “philosophical wanderings” of the ending. I also adored the parts with Pippa in them. This book was a real mixture of feelings for me, but will never come close to my adored “Secret History.” I buy up all the 50 cent copies of it I find and try to force it on everyone I know. 🙂
The book is a real mixture of things as you say – I loved Pippa too – and Hobie – and the little dog 🙂
I only skimmed most of your post (only because I don’t want to know too much about a book before I read about it!) but I do agree with something you write in the beginning – that when a book is overhyped it can affect your reading of it and can lead to some disappointment.
I’ll approach the book with the attitude of a 4 out of 5 stars then, that way, I can only be pleasantly surprised, hahaha!
Happy New Year!
That’s a good way to approach it I really hope you like it.
Very nice review! I haven’t read this one. I have found some of the blurbs and hype intriguing, but for me to commit to such a lengthy book I have to be completely charmed, and so far I haven’t found myself desperate to read this. As much time and work as the author clearly devoted to writing it, I feel a bit guilty that I’m not all a-clamor to get my hands on it. I know so many people who absolutely loved this, as well as her previous works.
Life is too short to read something you’re not entirely sure you want to especially when it’s so long.
I’m very taken with the early chapters, but there is a niggling doubt in my mind. I can believe it’s going to be a very good book but not that it’s going to be a great one. Time will tell, but I do know that no book could live up to the hype this one has had.
🙂 I do hope you continue to enjoy it but yes the hype has been massive.
Bought it just before Christmas and looking forward to reading it soon – especially now that you’ve helpfully adjusted my expectations and dampened the hype a little! Mind you I loved Secret History so much I’m not sure the great Donna Tartt publicity machine would have had to try too hard with me – I think I’d have hyped it up in my own head anyway!!!
The Secret History was a fantastic book. Hope you enjoy The Goldfinch.
Very much looking forward to reading this. By the looks of things I share the same opinion of many in that I loved The Secret History but wasn’t as wowed by The Little Friend. That said, there are images and characters from The LF that have really stayed with me so I guess it had more impact on me than first thought.
If I’m honest I have forgotten a lot about The Little Friend.
I don’t know — if a book is going to get ya, I think it will get ya no matter how much it has been hyped. I’m thinking Harry Potter 🙂 No book releases could have possibly been more hyped than the HP books and I loved them to the furthest extreme nonetheless!
I loved The Goldfinch so much that I re-read it right after I finished it. It was one of those books for me. We all have them, and they are different for each of us. That’s what makes the world interesting I think 🙂
You are right that is what makes reading blogging etc so interesting.
I share many of your thoughts. It is a wonderful story and definitely worth reading, but it didn’t blow me away like many of my favorite novels have. And,though I try not to be, I am bothered by the way she writes about drug use (it bothered me in The Secret History too). The way she writes about art is just amazing and I will remember this novel’s vivid descriptions of painting and art and antiques above all else.
Yes and she knows her stuff when ot comes to art and antiques too.
It’s on the shelf looking at me, along with Wolf Hall, The Luminaries and The children’s Book (Byatt) – other literary chunksters that I haven’t been brave enough to start reading – which would you recommend I tackle first??? 🙂
Well the Luminaries was one of my books of the year so I would certainly recommend that, I adored Wolf Hall though – it is certainly a book to imerse yourself in on these dark stormy evenings.
Despite loving The Goldfinch, I actually agree with your criticisms here. Is it ridiculous to admit that I love Tartt even in her imperfections? That I find her tendency to beat a thing to death and spiral off into madness every once in awhile absolutely genius? I think I just have a huge girl crush on her and she can do no wrong, haha. I’m glad you enjoyed the book as much as you did, though!!
🙂 well her talent is certainly worth appreciating.
I snagged this for the Kindle the other day for $1.99. I am going to wait until later to read it once the hype has died down. Everyone keeps saying it is “Dickensean” and I love Charles Dickens and I know that Tartt can never be a Dickens. However, my brain starts to expect it to be as awesome as Bleak House in breadth and depth and I know that won’t happen. I’ll wait a bit and then pick it up. I hate to spoil a good read by over idealizing.
That is the trouble with all the hype isn’t it? i can see why people have said Dickensian – but not sure The Goldfinch has quite that breadth.
I’ve only read the first paragraph of your review as I’m about a third of the way through this at the moment. However, I am finding that my reaction is swinging between being really engaged and then wanting her to get a move on. My current feeling is that if this had been read by a really good friend with a very sharp red pencil it would have been a far better book.
I think I agree about the red pencil 🙂 do hope you find plenty in it to like though.
Excellent review! I agree with you. It was too long, but overall, a good book.
Happy New Year!
Thanks, happy new year.
Well, personally, if this book wasn’t one you love I think that’s what you have to say and justify it in your own way – which you’ve done. I loved a Secret History but I didn’t like the second novel and in fact didn’t even keep the book. Books are personal, they appeal to everyone in a different way. Some people find one book lyrical while somebody else thinks that means boring. I love LoTR but a lot of people think he’s too descriptive. It’s all just personal to you. I have this book waiting to be read and will definitely read it – waiting for the right time – although I can’t help but feel a little bit cautious given that the second book wasn’t a favourite. Even so. I will read it.
Lynn 😀
Your review makes the book sound interesting. Hadn’t heard of it before, so thanks for introducing it to me. 🙂
I’m amazed you haven’t heard of it given all the hype.
I’ve been alternating between living in the university library and behind the pages of books from my TBR pile for the last year, so I’ve missed a lot. DX
That explains it 🙂
It was on the radio in the UK and although it couldn’t do justice to the quality of Donna Tartt’s prose, the plot was brilliant and having read the reviews of how enjoyable the detail is to read, when I have time I will definitely read the whole thing.
Oh excellent I’m glad to hear it.