Does the Goldfinch get any better?

[FlyingForest]

I’ve seen this recommended on here. I’m about 200 pages in and really bored. Is it one that gets better or should I give up if I’m not enjoying it already?

I loved The Goldfinch, but I loved it by the stage you’re at. Sounds like it’s not one you’re going to enjoy so you might as well cut your losses and DNF- life’s too short to read books you don’t like!

Guess what? Different people like different things. Personally I enjoyed it but that doesn't mean you have to. You have permission to stop now.

I had heard such good things about it so I kept going.
My advice? Don't bother. It was sooo boring. Don't know what everyone else saw in it.

I’m with @Seeline, it wasn’t for me.

I loved it from the very start so I think if you aren't into it now, it's not worth persevering.

I felt the same way as you though about Where the Crawdads Sing and I persevered but still did not enjoy it at all - it's funny sometimes I think a book just doesn't click.

Honestly it was my least favourite Donna Tartt and I found the story contrived and jarring. I love the quality of her writing and she can uplift my soul with her descriptions and lyticism which is what kept me going with it, but the storyline to me was very unsatisfying.

I loved but we’re not all the same

Ok it seems like those that loved it did from
the start rather than it being one that needs a bit of patience so I will probably have to close this book.

I loved it but loved it from the beginning. If anything I think it possibly dipped towards the end.

I didn’t love it. Read the entire thing but the only thing remember about it was what a slog it was. Yes it is a long book but I thought it crawled along, as opposed to something like Demon Copperhead - also a long book - but flew by!

I also loved it. I don’t think it’s a question of ‘does it get better’ because so many people have enjoyed it from tbe get go. As PPs have said, it’s just not for you.
I also absolutely loved The Secret History, which a couple of my friends thought was ‘crap’.

It's funny, I thought the beginning was a wonderful piece of writing. What I felt happening as the story progressed was that it all became dull and just filling in. But I also felt this with the Secret History: wonderful beginning, ok-ish middle, dull end. I've always thought that Tartt should write short stories because of what I've described above. But...as with PP, we all like different things.

I read it and didn’t love it. I didn’t think the sections gelled well and I thought some characters behaviours didn’t add up

I enjoyed it from the outset - though I did put it to one side and come back to it a few times.
Whereas I’ve not managed to make any headway with The Little Friend.

I liked it at the start but by the end I was bored of it - was a slog to finish it.

edited to say - sorry completely the wrong book!!!

@JimJimJam The Little Friend is positively dire that’s why!

I enjoyed it but I listened to the audiobook while I was working. I don't think I would have stuck with the book otherwise because she does go on a bit.

I pushed on through but found it very sprawling and quite dull in places - it seemed to plateau quite a lot and IIRC there were characters who didn’t seem to serve any purpose. I persevered because The Secret History is one of my all-time favourites, and also I was on holiday; not sure I’d have finished if I’d had to keep stopping and starting.

I did love some of the individual scenarios, but that’s ultimately what it felt like to me - a load of scenes strung together that didn’t add up to a satisfying whole. So yeah, I didn’t love it either.

I loved it, and was delighted to discover that she had written another book called The Little Friend. I had read The Secret History years ago and loved that too. There is another author called MJ Hyland who wrote three novels, all my favourite of all time, maybe try her next? The books aren't as long as the Donna Tartt ones but really well written and enjoyable.

Funny, I love The Little Friend! Really interesting how some books click and others don't for people, even from the same author.

Yes and no.
It sort of got better but I didn't love it

I’ll never get those hours back @ClowningArounds

Nope. It actually gets worse. The start was the best bit about it. Lots of time I'll never gt back.

It’s a boring slog at the start but yes I thought it did get better. I’d be inclined to stick with it.

I loved it, and particularly the Vegas section which most other people found a slog! If it’s that section, the pace does pick up from there, but it’s a fairly divisive book so might not be worth it for you.