Tuesday 3 February 2015

Reading:: The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt)



I procrastinated on this book really, really hard. 

For one thing, it's 864 pages long. I like fast conquests. Something I can knock over in a couple of days. But a good friend read it, loved it, and so when we went away on holidays, I grabbed a copy, determined to get into it. 

It did not take long and it did not disappoint. 

After the first day of reading (and around 300 pages in) I wrote to my friend: I feel like a leaf floating down a flooding creek, being tossed around. 

And so it is The Goldfinch. 

If you haven't read it. Do it. And don't let the sheer length put you off. 

It's a beautiful, sad, detailed telling of the life of 13 year old Theo. I'm not going to give any spoilers, but for me, it was the poetic prose that just blew my mind. 

Donna Tartt's writing is thick with description. In a good way. You really get drawn in to this world, the story, everything. It's compelling. It's page flipping good. Honestly, one of the best books I have read in a really, really long time. 

One of my other friends thought it was a little too long, a little too wordy, but me? Nope. Perfect. So freaking good I can't stop processing it in my mind. And now I can't pick up another book because it's not going to live up to Tartt's amazing-ness. That's the worst. Not being able to say goodbye to your beloved characters who become friends, and feeling if you start something new, you're abandoning your friends. 

I know. I am a bit crazy. But that's how much this book affected me. 


The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - $13.95 from Booktopia

* Reading is all about what I'm reading. It's not sponsored. It's simply me, reading a book and sharing with you. A book club of sorts. In 2015 it's my goal to read at least one book per month - and share my lowdown on them with you. Maybe you'd like to read along? If so, let me know and we can virtually have a book club. 

3 comments:

Emilie said...

Yayayay!!!!! Love a story that stays with you for a lifetime. The Goldfinch is one of those special ones. Xxx

Mel said...

I loved, loved,loved this book too. Have since read another of her books, The Secret History which was ok but not as great as The Goldfinch.

lois said...

AGREE COMPLETELY. loved it.