Anyone else reading this? It’s totally not the kind of book I would ever pick up on my own (I tend to find literary fiction a bit dull), but I’ve been accepted into a writing program that has it on the required reading list, so I picked it up. I was dismayed to see that it was almost 800 pages, and referred to it as “The Doorstop.”
However, much to my surprise, I’m about 550 pages in and I’m really enjoying it. The story is keeping me engaged, and every few pages I come across a passage that just makes me feel totally inadequate as a writer (I consider this a good thing–I see now why they wanted us to read it). I have a lot to learn.
Anyway, just wondering if anybody else is reading it and enjoying it (or not). Please, no open spoilers for the end, since I’m not finished yet.
My wife just finished it. As a professional editor and lit major she has an appreciation for well written literature. She spoke well of it. She admired the author’s penchant for detail but felt it could have been made shorter than 800 pages without giving up the narrative. Did I mention she’s an editor?
Anyway, she gave it a thumbs up. I trust her judgement. I’ll almost certainly read it next, once I’m done with what I’m reading now.
I bought this book a few weeks ago and started reading on a Thursday night. I spent the weekend reading it and did not stop until I was finished. It’s hard to discuss this since you haven’t finished the book. I’m not much into literary fiction but this book enthralled me. Could be at least 100 pages shorter. Come back when you are finished and we can have a great discussion.
I thought it was pretty good. It did not make me feel totally inadequate as a writer. There were some parts that for me really dragged. Sometimes the things that stay on the best-seller list for months and months, as this one has, really surprise me and give me hope that we’ve not gone totally vapid in our appetite for literature.
I read it five or six months ago, and really enjoyed it – in fact, it’s one of my favorite books I’ve read in the last five years. Really good characterization throughout – Tartt put a lot of work into describing how the central character grew (or rather changed) emotionally during the course of the book.
I liked The Goldfinch a heck of a lot more than I liked Tartt’s The Secret History (I’ve not yet read The Little Friend).
It is indeed a massive book, but it reads much faster than its girth would indicate.
Having not finished it yet, I’ll say that I agree that the Las Vegas section slogged a bit. I liked Boris (and I find myself hoping that he’ll turn up again before the book is done) but I think that whole section could have been tightened up considerably. And this is from somebody who loves reading about Vegas.
Or more. The level of description is waaaaay beyond what was necessary to paint a picture as well as carry the plot. I mean, the guy comes into a room. Maybe Hemingway would have named three things in the room, and Dickens would have named 20. This author names 80 objects and just lists them, like a catalog. “A lamp, a book on the table, the car, the dog, the carpet, the cup of tea, a sugar cube, another sugar cube, another sugar cube, another sugar cube, a pitcher of milk, another sugar cube,” etc. I tried to listen to the audiobook, but the descriptions made me nuts.
Aside from that, I am enjoying the characters and the story, while not finding the book as compelling as others I’ve read and loved. Not finished yet-- about 3/4 through. If it weren’t for book club, I might have bailed.
Oh, dear. Clearly, I am in the minority in this thread, so far. I detested this book. My review on Amazon said, in essence, that if this book represents the best of current US fiction (since it won a Pulitzer), we are deep trouble.
The begining section was gripping, if upsetting. The Las Vegas portion dragged on and on and on and became unbelievable. He’s getting drunk and high every night, his dad is absentee (so no parental control), but he still goes to school every day and gets good grades? Sorry, I’m not buying it.
I stuck it out until Theo got to New York and starting getting into trouble there. I won’t go into details for those of you still reading. Suffice to say that by that time, I didn’t care what happened to him anymore.
I read it a few weeks ago. Borowed it on my kindle without realizing how long it was. I spent an entire day enthralled before realizing I was only halfway through it. I agree it could have been a teensy bit less wordy, but I loved it.
Checking in again. I’m now 60% through the book (thank you, Kindle). I’m exasperated with the main character because at any time, if he was really worried about being thrown in jail or something, he could have abandoned the painting someplace where it would be found.
But (this is an important spoiler, so don’t peek if you’re still reading the book) when he found out that Boris had stolen/switched it, then his troubles were over WRT the painting, and a major premise of the book collapsed. I will finish it, because it’s for my book club, and I’ll admit I’m curious about how it will end. I’m still skipping major descriptive passages, which are wordy beyond belief.
I got this from the library in an eBook, and was really liking it except that it dragged soooo much in the beginning. I didn’t have any days to just indulge and plow through, so the loan expired and I’m back on the waiting list. In the meantime, I’d heard from several sources that is could be 100 pages shorter, and I thought, “Great, I’ve passed those hundred pages, the rest will be cake!” Now you all are saying the draggy part is near the end? This does not bode well for getting through it the next time I can take it out!
Up to almost 700 pages now (had to take some time off for Gen Con–it was too heavy to take on the plane), still enjoying it. Yeah, it gets a bit draggy in spots, but surprisingly (since I have the attention span of a gnat normally) that’s not bothering me. I’m not sure why. Hoping it continues through the end.
Funny thing is, I have to read two fiction books for my course; the other one is “Beloved” by Toni Morrison. Reading the blurbs on both I thought I’d hate “Goldfinch” and like “Beloved,” but it’s turning out to be the opposite. “Beloved” is (IMO) boring, impenetrable, and just a massive slog, despite the fact that it’s half the length of “Goldfinch.” It doesn’t help that I hate “chick” books and don’t really want to read about pregnancy and failed romances and somebody all upset because someone “took her milk.” I just want it to be over.
I’ll take explosions and Boris and drug abuse every time, even with all the extra words.
I had issues with this book. The length, for one. For another, Theo. I was never convinced by him as a character. He was like an academic’s daydream of what having a son would be — a kid who’s happy to traipse through museums and talk art like a grown-up. I dunno, I suppose there are kids like that. I just know I never met one.
My other big issue: Pippa. (Was that her name? It’s been a while.) Nothing but a vapid fantasy object for the narrator. I found her entire presence in the book essentially a red herring. I wasn’t expecting them to get together — I’m glad Tratt didn’t go for something that obvious — but I did think she’d pay off a little better.
I didn’t hate it. Boris was pretty funny. And the section in Vegas was interesting, in that it was a snapshot of a place I didn’t know and was done convincingly.
