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Original poster

The Goldfinch - losing the will to read...

20 replies

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 30/01/2014 00:00

I'm on page 594 of 771 and I've lost all interest in what happens next and really don't care two hoots about any of the nasty, selfish, irresponsible characters. And I've stopped believing in them too.

If it's worth toughing it out please let me know, otherwise I'm switching to my e-book of The Chalet School for a bit of light relief.

OP posts:
hackmum · 30/01/2014 09:31

Well, if you don't like it by page 594, it seems unlikely that you'll start liking it in the next 180 pages.

On the other hand, you might take the view that if you've got this far, you might as well finish it.

I think those of us who enjoyed The Goldfinch didn't need to tough it out - we loved it from page 1.

gailforce1 · 30/01/2014 10:23

I have this on my kindle and was looking forward to reading it as have seen many good reviews. If I only had 180 pages to go I would tough it out as I hate not finishing a book!
It is interesting how books don't appeal to everyone - I toiled through Apple Tree Yard whereas others loved it.

Original poster
LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 30/01/2014 10:34

I really enjoyed it to start with but have gradually liked it less and less. Or rather I've stopped like the characters. I'd still recommend it as a brilliant read, even if I don't finish it I think 500 odd good pages is excellent value!

OP posts:
wrenster · 30/01/2014 13:32

I am so with you! I have been ploughing through this waiting for 'the good bit' but am also contemplating stopping. I had a train journey yesterday which I was determined to get through a good chunk and the view was more interesting at times. On p440 and I'm really not sure it's worth finishing. Can someone just tell me what happens?!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 01/02/2014 17:54

I was the same with The Secret History, gave up 3/4 of the way through it...

AtYourCervix · 03/02/2014 20:14

ah. I'm 58% through. I rather enjoyed the first half but have had to abandon it in favour of Jilly Cooper.

does it perk up?

BOFtastic · 03/02/2014 20:21

It gets much pacier towards the end. Keep going! And the end is amazing.

MillyONaire · 03/02/2014 20:22

I gave up half way through and as it was my only christmas present (chosen and bought by myself - how sad!!) I really did not want to give up!!!
Funny that gailforce I loved Apple Tree Yard!

AgentProvocateur · 03/02/2014 20:30

I LOVED the Goldfinch. I read it before Christmas, and I'm halfheartedly reading my book group books now, because nothing has captivated me half as much since.

AgentProvocateur · 03/02/2014 20:31

I LOVED the Goldfinch. I read it before Christmas, and I'm halfheartedly reading my book group books now, because nothing has captivated me half as much since.

AgentProvocateur · 03/02/2014 20:31

I loved it so much, I posted twice Wink

Iwillorderthefood · 03/02/2014 20:34

Reading it now, I think there is something likeable about the main character no matter what awful things he gets himself into. I am reading it to see if he gets anything right in the end.

BOFtastic · 03/02/2014 20:38

It's the best book I've read in years, Agent. I really loved it. I've even bought DP (he's an artist) the audiobook, so he can listen to it while he paints.

evertonmint · 03/02/2014 20:38

I'm on the last chapter. I was riveted until he went back to New York from Vegas and have gradually lost enthusiasm since then. Hoping to just get it finished now, and also hoping this final chapter perks back up.

marzipanned · 03/02/2014 21:46

I really didn't love the ending, which makes me sad because so much of the book was absolutely brilliant. My heart sunk when Boris reappeared because you just knew that things were going to start going really wrong again for Theo but in retrospect my heart should also have sunk because I felt the passages about gangsters, art thieves etc were the weakest in the whole novel.

Tartt is an incredible writer and there were so many sentences, particularly in the Vegas section, that made me want to shout "Yes!" (Especially having lost my own Mum at a young age - my goodness it felt like Tartt was inside my teenage head.) I also agree with Iwillorder - I couldn't not like Theo, even if he did make one mistake after another - just look at the life he'd had.

The very final few pages seem to really divide people - I won't say why as obviously some are still reading. But even with these provisos I'd say this is one of the best novels I've read in 2013/2014 and, Agent, I'm finding it hard to start something new as everything else just seems so meaningless in comparison!

Greythorne · 10/03/2014 17:34

Did anyone guess that the item in the safe storage was not what Theo thought? (trying to avoid too much of a spoiler.)

I didn't and I was riveted by what unfolded.

pennyink · 10/03/2014 18:39

Absolutely loved this book... until Boris reappeared. It just got really confusing and felt a bit pointless. Skim-read to the end to find out what happened, but had stopped believing by then.

I was given two copies for Christmas, so doubly gutted! Donna Tartt is a wonderful writer... needs a strict editor.

aoife24 · 14/03/2014 19:07

Same here. I have it on Kindle which tells me I have about 20 percent to go and I just can't be arsed. Going to read Evie Wylde's new one instead (well, newish).

Doshusallie · 14/03/2014 19:10

I loved the first 70 % and then was bored rigid. OCD prevented me from not finishing however.

LordPalmerston · 24/03/2014 09:54

ah I jsut strated a thread
I thought the end needed editing BIG TIME

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