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'The Goldfinch' group Book Club review..

David:


Although I haven’t yet finished ‘The Goldfinch’ I am enjoying  the story and the way it is heading. However I am finding it a struggle to get through as it is so descriptive- almost journal like. I was disappointed when Theodore’s dad came onto the scene as I was hoping he would stay in NYC.
I will keep an open mind and endeavour to finish- however long that may take!

Ann:
I downloaded this book onto my Kindle as the thought of reading and holding such a massive hard copy was too much! I have to say after finishing it, I was very disappointed. While I think the story is a great idea and beautifully written it is far too long and descriptive. Theodore’s lifestyle in parts just didn’t ring true- the drug use didn’t quite match his character. The ending I found was also flat- I had read over 800 pages and expected something fantastic! All this being said I would read Tartt’s other pieces- if they weren’t as long but I definitely wouldn’t recommend ‘The Goldfinch’.

Wendy:
Although the story and feel of the book was great, I was unfortunately very disappointed with this book- and after hearing such great things! It was far too long and descriptive with over half of it being pure waffle! I found I ploughed through with resentment rather than enjoyment and the ending turning into a journal type piece was just bizarre and unfitting. It was almost like Tartt wrote a brilliant story but then decided to fill in the gaps with over-descriptive nonsense that bulked out an extra 400 pages. I also found I couldn’t bond well with the characters and Tartt lacked the knowledge of particular aspects- the drug use especially- it didn’t ring true or real. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this book but it would make a great film!

Sam:

The Goldfinch was a book I was very excited to read, so excited that I actually brought it before the book club copies arrived. I couldn't wait to lose myself in the many pages that some said made up a 'masterpiece'. To an extent, that is true and I cannot fault the writing. Tartt writes beautifully and in a very classic manner. She also describes places very well and draws some lovely pictures in our heads of cities (New York, Vegas and Amsterdam). I'm so glad I read this book, there were twists but they were placed at huge intervals which were frustrating yet I genuinely felt for Theo. His character was portrayed so authentically. I found the scene where Theo returned to his apartment seeking his mum heart-wrenching and scenes where his love for Pippa is evident, very emotive. Also parallels with Great Expectations could easily be drawn and I feel very protective of Theo as I did with Pip. Although I felt some times we read a bit too much of Theo's inner thoughts and feelings which otherwise made a delightful novel quite long and hard work.
 
Sharon C:
Like Wendy, I enjoyed the basis of the story and the feel of it, but it was overly long and far too descriptive. 
It did take a little while for something to happen, and then when it did there was another story going on before something else happened. There was just so much we really didn’t need to know and in its current format it seems like different stories joined together in a bit of a hotchpotch way. I did think that perhaps as the story unfolded, Theo should have reflected on how he got to be in his situation, rather than pages and pages of endless drivel, which had no bearing on the story.  The ending was dire and a bit of an over indulgence on the part of the author – after all those pages I was hoping it would finish with a bit of a bang.  Maybe this should have been written as a trilogy and all the unanswered questions could have been answered.  As it is I almost lost the will to live and don’t care enough about any of the characters (apart perhaps for Pippa) to want to know what happened to them.

Margaret


I was very disappointed in the ending especially since the book had so much potential to start with. Tartt took it in a different direction to I would have liked to have seen. I also found it too long and think the writing, content and length would have been better presented in a series of books.
 
Evidently ‘The Goldfinch’ wasn’t a much loved book at the Yeovil College Book Club! Needless to say it made for a great meeting. I would like to welcome the newest member to the club Silja- although new to a book club she bought some fantastic views about general reading and really bonded well with the group. I look forward to hearing her reviews on future reads.
We won’t be meeting again now until after Christmas so enjoy ‘What dreams may come’ and have lots of views and opinions ready for me in the new year!
 
- Carey


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