WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE
“The Goldfinch is a rarity that comes along perhaps half a dozen times per decade, a smartly written literary novel that connects with the heart as well as the mind….Donna Tartt has delivered an extraordinary work of fiction.” — Stephen King, The New York Times Book Review
Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his … 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 his 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 the underworld of art.
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, and the ruthless machinations of fate.
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Great plot—liked peripheral characters better than the narrator, though!
Fantastic read, but I kept my online dictionary handy. I recommend viewing the paintings mentioned online as you read.
I have liked Donna Tartt’s other books but this one was just one terrible disaster for it’s protagonist, after another. I really only liked the part about the Maltese dog. The entire book reminded me of the Perils of Pauline if people know what that is. Just too many depressing things to happen to one person. Maybe for some it’s like that but …
I didn’t care for this book. The story revolves around waiting and watching the main character fall apart. I found it nerve wracking not enjoyable.
I loved this book. It seemed to hit this emotion deep inside of me that’s kind of a bittersweet happiness. The story hurts to read, but in a good way. It kind of reminds me of A Separate Peace by John Knowles in the certain kind of emotion the story itself holds. It’s the best book I’ve read in a long time, and I highly, highly recommend it.
Kept my attention throughout. Enjoyed very much.
Enjoyed this book and passed it on to a friend who enjoyed it too.
This would be an interesting movie!
Loved both boys, traumatized, victimized survivors who loved each other when no one else could. Drugs & booze make for lengthy discourse. Reading time 18 hours. Pages 774. Haven’t read such a tome since Mark Halprin’s Winters Tale. Reading time16 hours. Pages 749.
This is quite a tome to get through, but once I got into the story, I couldn’t put it down. I thought the characters were well-drawn and interesting. The overall scenario was inspired and kept me turning the page throughout. An excellent read – just wish I’d come across this sooner.
A 2014 Pulitzer Prize Winner, the novel celebrates and ridicules life. And like life, the prose is raw and pretentious, ugly and beautiful, pointless and rewarding, exhausting and exhilarating.
The Goldfinch refers to a 1654 painting by the Dutch artist Carel Fabritius, who died at 32 when a gunpowder arsenal exploded. It’s no coincidence someone …
This book destroyed me in the best way. Highly recommend, but prepare yourself to be changed a bit after you read it.
Exquisitely written, this is a book which made me cry, made me pause just to savour the words and imagery used. It’s a master piece, one of the best books I have ever read.
The Goldfinch is a top contender for my favorite book read this year. Not only is the writing phenomenal, but the story and its underlining theme are powerful.
I listened to it (I recommend it, the narrator is fantastic), and now I’m reading it (yes, it is that good). I completely understand why it won the Pulitzer Prize!
Do yourself a favor, …
Awesome read.
This is one of my favorite books!
I did not want it to end!
The characters were so fasanating.
Some people say it is hard to get into.
It may be slow for the first 50 or so pages;after that I could not stop reading …
Well written. You need time to read many pages at a time to become invested in the story. It is not a quick read.
Hard to get through; I couldn’t finish it.
One of the best books I’ve ever read.
I may be the only person I know that did not care for this book. I didn’t like any of the characters, and therefore had little interest in what happened to them.