The Goldfinch
By Donna Tartt
- Release Date: 2013-10-22
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
A young New Yorker grieving his mother's death is pulled into a gritty underworld of art and wealth in this “extraordinary” and beloved novel that "connects with the heart as well as the mind" (Stephen King, New York Times Book Review), named a New York Times Best Book of the 21st Century.
Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by a longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into a wealthy and insular art community. As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love — and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.
The Goldfinch is a mesmerizing, stay-up-all-night and tell-all-your-friends triumph, an old-fashioned story of loss and obsession, survival and self-invention. From the streets of New York to the dark corners of the art underworld, this "soaring masterpiece" examines the devastating impact of grief and the ruthless machinations of fate (Ron Charles, Washington Post).
Reviews
Goldfinch
5By YayaNetskiI loved this book. The characters were well written. I could visualize the scenes. The mystery involved was well done. It was long but I couldn’t put it down.Creation and Drugs
3By Easterner1A boy grows to manhood while ingesting random collections of drugs in the wake of a traumatic event. Can the beauty of art and antiquities succeed in breathing meaning into his life? And who decides?Ending was a bummer
3By Kerryr3All that headspace…for an ending that was lackluster at best. DisappointedRelatable beautiful writing!
5By Heatherwilson8Such a relatable story. Although long I couldn’t put it down.Jaw dropping
5By Savannah GabbertI’ve read this book 3 times and am still in awe of the power of its language. The story is really about trauma: can we ever recover? Is there really beauty in this life? Vivid contrast of its settings-NYC and Las Vegas. Unique characters, all carrying open wounds that never heal. In spite of what I’ve said here, the story isn’t bleak. The power of her writing is worth the read.The Goldfinch
2By brookseaWay too long.Donna tart muncher
5By I barely readI love Donna holy S, book was a journeyNot for me
2By Killa LolaNeedlessly verbose and painfulGood story but easily get lost its way
1By riskdbA few chapters are too long winded in the description and tedious.The Goldfinch
5By Gourd girlPhenomenal! Absolutely loved this story. The character depth depicted was amazing!Best Book Ever
5By MsAnnaBaxterBest book I’ve ever read. I read The Goldfinch after seeing how long it was atop the bestseller list. The characters are so real, the fractured relationships are nothing like my life experience. After reading it years ago, I started it again to relive the magic of the story. It grabs you from the beginning, and keeps you turning pages. I haven’t found another book that matches this one. Truly unforgettable.I’d read it a third time!
5By TinasuezI loved The Goldfinch! I’ve reread it twice. Such a touching coming-of-age story of two mostly abandoned and abused boys struggling to make sense of their lives and the future. Beautifully written. Phrases that describe the goldfinch in the painting who might try to take flight, but is dragged back to the perch by the chain around his leg. Allegorical for the struggle the boys undertake in this beautiful story.better than i could have wished for
5By grace raye!If you’re considering reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, please do. I experienced this book in such a visceral way, the details are incredible and the story is so vivid. I genuinely could not put this down. Heartbreaking at times, this book is a wonderful journey through Theodore Decker’s wonderful and painful life. I went into this read completely blind and I suggest you do too! It was so suspenseful, wholesome, gut wrenching and so so much more. Definitely the best book I’ve read by far.Drudgery!
1By LindenGrandmaA very rough read. Way to verbose and overwritten when describing the drug and alcohol indulgence. The actual story gets lost in all the self analysis and psycho-babble. I’d like a refund of my time!Annoying.
2By Emoney83It was very detailed and frustrating, By the time you got to the point… it was like ehhh. Some parts were really good but then ending was lame.Pros and Cons
4By SANTA THE FANTAA great read besides the fact that it was wordy and too descriptive. it could’ve easily been shortened by a few hundred pages.This book will stay with you
5By featherhead🪂Existential, nihilistic, adventurous masterpieceEnjoyable And Very Long
2By bfreediffthansafeSaw the movie first then read the book. Detailed in ways and lacking in others. Pippa, Lucious, Horst follow ups? Literally skipped through 30-40pages cuz uninteresting detail. Cannot say “So glad I read the book!” Wish I would have left it at the movieGood Read but...
3By ConsuelagongThe last pages after Amsterdam were boring and went on for way too long and trying to be philosophical. Keep fiction fiction 3.5/5
