The Goldfinch

WipsGlitter - yes! I agree with you.

I've just finished this. I enjoyed it and was thinking about it when I wasn't reading it, but... I found it to be a bit of a mish-mash of coming of age novel, crime caper and antiques roadshow show off of how much research the author had done.

It needed edited as well. Too long. Skipped the psycho babble at the end.

I've nearly finished it and have loved it. Possibly even more so than The Secret History - which I loved when I first read it at university. But I re-read it recently and although it is still a gripping read I found the characters tiresome and Julian almost unbearable (which may perhaps be the point but he was so very irritating second time round). Whereas The Goldfinch feels much more the work of an older writer with more life experience and empathy. The first half is almost unbearably sad - not just the accident but the aftermath and Theo's stay in Las Vegas.

I will be bereft when I finish it - just hope the ending doesn't let me down!

I've pre-ordered Longbourn in paperback. The Luminaries is still only in hardcover and just too difficult to carry around so I'll wait on it.

Thank you for the recommendations. Something for Xmas, I'll give DH a hint.

LCHammer - I've got The Luminaries waiting for me on my Kindle, which is apparently a very good read, so I'll let you know my verdict when I've finished that! In the meantime, I've been recommending Longbourn by Jo Baker to all and sundry - a beautifully-written book that recounts the Pride and Prejudice story from the servants' viewpoint. It hasn't received nearly as many plaudits as it deserves, in my view.

BTW, there are two reviews of The Goldfinch on the Guardian site - one is a highly favourable one by Kamila Shamsie; the other is Julie Myerson's hatchet job, which was written for The Observer. I really can't see what motivated Myerson to write such a churlish piece. It's as if she'd read a completely different book.

I hadn't read the review in The Guardian. Any other new book out at the moment as well written?

I loved it too. A wonderfully rich, complex, multi-layered book. Was completely absorbed in its world - not many books can do that. My only gripe would be that the last gangsterish part (don't want to give too much away) was a change in tone from the rest of it, and didn't quite work for me.

It really made me dislike Julie Myerson even more than I did already. Her Observer review was so shallow and point-missing that I can only assume she wrote it out of jealousy.

Just finished and loved it. That Guardian review was very peculiar.

Dh got me the hardback for my birthday. Had only read one review in guadian which was negative so nearly returned it. Thankfully I didn't as is brilliant think reviewing journo jealous!

I finished it last week. I loved the beautiful writing but thought the plot a bit too much and it could have been shorter.

I bought it for £8.00 from WH Smith, too. Finished it last week. Loved it. Loved Boris, loved Theo, loved Pippa. Never read The Secret History so I'm saving it for the Christmas holidays.

I am worried what I will read when I come to the end!

One thing I would say though was that I feel Richard Papen from TSH and Theo are similar in that they both have this sense of being abandoned by their families and that really comes across. The flavour is similar and differs very much from The Little Friend where you have this dysfunctional yet close knit family.

Finished!

Have been in tears because I didn't want it to end.

I know that's really wet. but it's always nice to feel like you've had your money's worth from a book

I'm going to finish it this morning while walking the dog (listening to it as an audio book).

I'll be very, very sad to finish it.

There's a bit I was listening to in bed last night - a long, long passage describing Theo's state of mind, in the Amsterdam section, that has gone straight to my soul. I feel absolutely pierced by it.

I'm also in lust with Boris. Dirty, dirty man!

weksh yes will avoid reviews I've heard they spoil it because it's impossible to discuss the plot without ruining it.

LittleBairn, it is sort of about a painting and other beautiful things, and also sort of a coming-of-age story, but neither of those descriptions tells anything like the whole story. I'd just get it and read it because all the reviews contain spoilers and (for me at least) it's one of those books you get hooked on from the start, and want to keep reading until you finish it.

Thanks Lottie can't wait to read it.

LittleBairn - I think the general consensus from those who reviewed it is that this is better than TLF. I liked both her previous books but TSH is my favourite too and probably my favourite book ever.

Without giving anything away, whats it about?

So excited to find out she has released a new book The little friend was a disappointment but The secret history was so fantastic I will read any book of hers because it might just be on par with it.

I finished it this morning and loved it (although for me, it still doesn't quite live up to The Secret History - but then The Secret History is one of my top 5 Desert Island books). I will definitely be reading it again. Beautifully written; great plot (I didn't find it lagged over the 771 pages) and fantastic characters. I particularly liked Mrs Barbour. I think it will be re-read - which is just as well as I shelled out for the hardback.

She really is a wonderful writer. Reading this one has made me realise that I don't enjoy anyone's work as much as hers. I think it's a shame she has only written 3 books - I wonder if the next one will take another 10 years??

I bought it for £8 from WHSmith too. I like reading the Guardian and Times book review supplements but I have noticed that they are increasingly full of spoilers with no warning. The 'Goldfinch' reviews were so incredibly detailed regarding the plot that there appears to be little left to discover other than the pleasure of the words.

I wish I hadn't read them and I have decided to not read reviews of the books i intend to buy regardless of what the critics say. I rarely allow critics to influence my decision to buy anyway-rather I use them to guide me to books that would otherwise to not be on my radar.

I am enjoying the book and won't spoil it for anybody who has not started it yet. The language, imagery is rich and satisfying as always- I preferred 'The Little Friend' to 'The Secret History' which I know is not the usual preference.

I've finished it and loved. Oh, Donna Tartt you very talented and accomplished writer you! Utter poetry, all 800 pages or so.

I'm on the last few pages now. I've loved it. I usually hate reading hardbacks, especially massive ones like this, but the story and the writing style overrode it. I'm sure this is a book I'll be rereading too.
The descriptions of the lead character's emotions are absorbing and have left me thinking about them throughout the day when I'm doing other stuff.