The Goldfinch -throwing in the towel

[BlueLaceAgate]

I'm at the engagement party, and I just can't go on. Wish Boris would drag me away....

Usually I persist with books, but I feel I've persisted enough. There's some beautiful writing, but it just goes on too much. So I skim read to the end and now I'm going to rummage through my books and find something else. I had a horrible year last year and comfort-bought books, so there's plenty to choose from.

I feel I've been defeated by The Goldfinch, but in the end, life's too short. It had turned into a chore.

Nuts, I just started this!

There are good bits . If you look else thread, you'll find plenty of people loved it, as well as a fair few who gave up.

Beware though, there's a number of spoilers about.

Ok . I'm a book-persister too, there's not many I've managed to give up on, but I'm trying to change my ways!

I did love the other book DT write, title eludes me now.

What are you going to read now?

*wrote

I loved The Goldfinch, but I agree it's too long winded in places.

I loved The Little Friend & enjoyed The Secret History. I'm not sure what to read next. Something different, although most books would be.

Shortlist: "The Hand That First Held Mine" - Maggie OFarrell
"Shakespeare's RestlessWorld" - Neil MacGregor
" The Examined Life" Stephen Grosz
"The Light Years" - Elizabeth Jane Howard
"Black Rainbow". - Rachel Kelly.

Or something else...

Are you going to continue with The Goldfinch? Don't be put off by my experience.

I gave up too!

We need a support thread, " We Gave Up On The Goldfinch. Are We Lightweights?".

According to my kindle app I am 78% through and I have given up. This is only the second book I've ever given up on so it's really disappointing, especially because I loved The Secret History.

You're better than me - I keep looking at it on the book case and can't quite summon the will to start. It looks hard work but everyone says it's fabulous. Now this thread has put me off even more....

BlueLace - if you still feel like comfort I would recommend the Light Years on your list. Great characterisation and very forgiving and benign towards them.
The Hand that First Held Mine was a good read, but terribly sad in parts. If you're a bit wobblesome regarding motherhood or children I would say avoid.

Your post describes me exactly, except I'm still ploughing on with The Luminaries. I admire it, there's loads to admire, but it's not engaging me. I want floss, but should choose wholesome veg...

I loved it. The ending was a tad meh though. Haven't read the secret history so buying that next.

I have read it and agree that at times it does go on a bit but I did enjoy it.

I gave up on it. Yes there is some beautiful writing, but I just didn't care about any of the characters.

Just started Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo. Much more fun and still good writing.

Loved the teenage Theo too, all the drugs and drink seemed quite understandable. But his later choices I kept telling myself "He's got PTSD". But still...

I liked Boris, not as in "would like him to marry my daughter", more as a survivor.

Quite fancied living at Hobie's, waxing the furniture and listening to the tick tock of the clocks. Did she mention those or is that my imagination?

Was just about to start a thread like this!

Started it today and put it down after 10 pages. I just want to scream 'get on with it!' The author uses 10 words when 1 will do and it drives me mad. I'm a bit as I really wanted to like it...

I keep trying, but it's bloody hard work, I don't care about the characters.

Mind you, I've also given up on Wolfe Hall, found it incredibly dry, so probably just a lightweight here.

Don't bother. It needed a good editor to take a third off it. It bizarrely turns into a bit of a crime caper at the end which seems entirely out of place. I can see why they kept it off The Booker Longlist

I took a 2 month hiatus then decided to finish it on holiday.

Was glad I did, but it's really only the last 100 pages that gripped me.

Eventually i decided reading a novel needn't be such hard work. It became a bit of a duty and as im not reading for anything but my own pleasure I decided a quick skim to the end would do.
The last 100 pages lost me.
I loved Wolf Hall, so does that promote me to middle-weight?

I hated the Barbours except Andy. I did think Theo's dad and Xandra were well drawn characters. Detestable though, I really felt for teenage Theo and Boris.

I really disliked it. I struggled with it for about a week, finished it, I'm sorry I didn't give up half way through. I was really disappointed, I wanted to love it

I gave up at 74% just too much hard work for no satisfaction. Such a shame.

Oh I loved it! Persevere! The ending is fun.

I finished it and didn't really 'get' the ending. Like a wigglesrock, I wish I'd given up on it .