Survival story of a non-heroic hero

As an artist and museum professional, I have spent my career encouraging people to view things left behind as more than just "stuff" to be trashed or relegated to flea markets. The objects, beautiful or utilitarian, can reveal much about the lives and vales of the people who created, used, or saved them. They have stories to tell to those who will listen. 

Such treasured things don't merely "decorate" this book, rather they inhabit it, anchoring  wounded characters to the world as they weather unthinkable loss. In the hands of the author, works of artists and craftsman come to embody memories of the past and hopes for a tolerable  future. 

Don't worry! This is not a book about dusty furniture and paintings! It is a story about survival, but not the heroic survival of nonfiction tales (a genre I love, by the way). This is a case of fiction being "truer" than nonfiction. Only heroic tales earn nonfiction book contracts! It takes a novelist to plumb the depths of what nonheroic Theo (mixed-up but not evil) does when confronted with tragic misfortune. 

The story is told in first-person and the narrator did an excellent job as Theo, while distinctly voicing other characters to indicate dialog. 

In my personal life at the moment, I'm adjusting to the loss of my own mother (very different circumstances, of course) and the things she left behind, much of which is imbued with meaning and memory for me. So many acquaintances (my friends know better!) counsel, "It's just stuff -- get rid of it!"  Not to me. Those things are tangible connections to the people I've loved and lost.

So if you are a collector who others suspect of being One of Those Hoarders, you'll find justification in this book and possibly better understanding of why inanimate objects mean more to you than to others. 

You don't have to be a collector to enjoy this The Goldfinch, but you should enjoy long, thoughtful books. Even action sequences, filtered through the Theo's thoughts, take much longer than they  would in a thriller, but I was never tempted to fast-forward. On the contrary, I regret reaching the end and wish I could follow Theo further along his journey to see how he fares. 

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175 people found this helpful

A lot bigger than one little finch

Plenty of novels that offer great truths about the world are rewarding to read, but unfortunately dry as dust. Reviews for The Goldfinch mention its many themes and messages--consequently I was a little nervous putting it in my cart, especially after I read some of the reviews of the narrator.

My worry was wasted. The Goldfinch really comes through with 32-plus hours of riveting listening.

Theo Decker is only 13 when he loses his mother in a catastrophe at a museum. He survives, and with him is a tiny painting by a forgotten Dutch master, Carel Fabritius. The painting is always in his thoughts as, over a number of years, he is passed from home to home: with a school friend on Park Avenue in New York, with his father and a wiggy girlfriend in Las Vegas, with a restorer of fine furniture in Greenwich Village.

In those places, as he tries desperately to put his life back together in spite of a total lack of preparation for such a disaster, Theo meets some of the more interesting and well-drawn characters I've seen in a literary novel. Some books that purport to be about "quirky" people feel a little forced--in less skillful hands, characters can seem like they're trying too hard to be weird and fun.

But good characters like Tartt's remind you of people you've known in your own life: a frustrating parent, well-meaning school counselors, annoying kids at school, an uncle that's always fussing over you. There are plenty of great examples here, including my favorite, Boris--a guy so crazy and fearless that even a trip to the local Quickie Mart is an epic adventure. (I firmly believe everyone should have at least one person like him in their life at some point!)

Some sections of the book were a bit long--there were a few conversations that made me squirm with frustration. I wanted to yell out, "Just SAY it!" But to balance it out there's a great wealth of detail that reminded me of the fun parts of anything by Dickens or Stephen King (to non-readers of King--yes, there are fun parts!).

The detail is particularly worthy when works of art are described. Art history geeks will be in heaven (I was!) but it's pretty easy to find Tartt's references online--I know, because there were a bunch I had to look up. I suggest finding a good picture of The Goldfinch to look at before listening, too--there were places where I wished I had done that myself.

I had never heard of David Pittu before and like I mentioned, I was a little nervous after I read some of the reviews. But again, the worry was wasted. For the great wealth of characters, he managed to come up with different accents and voices, and I always knew who was talking. His Russian/Ukraine accents were as good as his New York society ladies. At some points he seemed a little breathless, maybe even hammy, but it never lasted long and with the length of this book, I forgive him.

If you like art, or literature, or humor, or edge-of-the-seat suspense, or even if you just want to see some of the wide selection of weirdos this world has to offer, I recommend The Goldfinch. It's big--but it's worth it.

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74 people found this helpful

"If we’re just talking story, kid, you got it"

Theo remembers or imagines his father saying this late in the book. And for all else, this IS an intriguing and entertaining story. Picaresque, it ranges from Theo’s coming of age in a forlorn Las Vegas suburb with his inexorable friend Boris to Manhattan and the furniture buying habits of the very rich. Of the many startling but believable coincidences, major and minor, I give one example: The Goldfinch painter and Rembrandt student Carel Fabritius died young in a huge powder magazine explosion in 1654 and, early in this book his painting is in an explosion at the Met in New York. (The painting is amazing and a most elegantly simple masterwork. I want to see it in the Hague someday).

Like complex clockwork, the story needs all of the small pieces that add up to 32 hours. Some scenes could even have gone longer; more could have been said and it would have been okay. There is a delicacy to the detail of description and narrative that I find appealing. I have always loved picaresque novels most of whose plot twists seem far less plausible than these.

The narration is great. I am speak with Ukrainian eccent all the time now I finish book. A good listen.

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9 people found this helpful

This is SUCH a good book

This is not an easy read - the length and the story definitely require a commitment to the story's end and the characters' journey. But what a ride! Donna Tartt's style is riveting - she writes and you are there, caught in the web of her exquisite descriptions. Her characters are so solid, so endearing, at times so frustrating, but ultimately unforgettable. I generally stay away from "dark" books and this one is dark but it isn't ponderous or without hope. It is SO worth the ups and downs because it is such a fine piece of literature.

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8 people found this helpful

Prepare for total immersion

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, but somehow it's too good to pass on to just anyone.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Goldfinch?

Theo's first moments at Pippa's home. He eats his first real meal since the tragedy and cannot help but sink into the comfort and love that this strange new place and it's occupants exude.

What about David Pittu’s performance did you like?

He made three distinctly different Russian accents, convincing but not distracting female voices, and found the perfect tone for Theo.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Neither, but I was totally engaged by the careful way she describes antiques and the restoration process. Also, the clothing interested me. Her characters are all properly dressed for their storyline.

Any additional comments?

Ms. Tartt is a genius- she must be to create something so epic and engaging. Oh I did NOT want it to end.

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8 people found this helpful

Show, dont tell.

In the art world, there is a term called DOUBLENESS. It refers to viewing a painting close up and seeing the composition of the lines and brushstrokes, the artists fingerprint, so to speak, and then backing up and seeing the painting as a whole piece, the resulting image meant for all to gaze upon. The difference between the two observations can sometimes be worlds apart, one perspective not even slightly resembling the other and both are of the same thing.

In this case the painting is the Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius - from 1654. It depicts a European goldfinch on top of its feeder that is attached to the wall. The bird is sitting on the top ring, to which it is chained by its foot. Imprisoned for life? Is this the only life the bird has ever known, chained to it's perch never to truly know life on the any other way? Will the bird ever be able to to experience flying?

The Goldfinch is a different kind of book in many ways. It is not just a story. Not just a narrative. It's not just about the plot or the characters. It's not just about the painting, It's about the work that has gone into it: the form, the structure, the internal memory of the events experienced by Theo, the resolution of dissonance into sweet tonality only that release is very rarely experienced.

Donna Tartt does not tell us about Theo Decker. She shows us.
Without giving anything away, Donna Tartt has carefully composed the literary equivalent of a grand symphonic work. A structure of composition that repeats upon itself several times, bringing back context and themes without belittling or underestimating to the reader.

So many ideas are spoken of in this book:

Doubleness - (looking at a thing close up vs viewing from a distance).
The love of Beauty
What is true value
Poor decisions and positive outcomes.
Immortality and timelessness
Imprisoned and chained (metaphorically speaking)
Loss and how it's dealt with.

The form of the book is ABA plus a CODA - to use musical terminology. What's so impressive about this is that Tartt used the form as a tool to write her story and still could create a work of art that does not sound arbitrary or academic in anyway, quite the opposite. The characters are carefully developed and the relationships created are natural and sincere. Her writing is beautiful and inspirational. Her prose are brilliant and smart.

I have become a little obsessed with this book, even before reading it, because of the attention it drew. What was so unique about it? Why is it so special?

Is it the best book I have ever read? NO, but it ranks.
Is it special? YES.

I am not completely done thinking about this book. I may, after several weeks of pondering, have more to say.

I hope my review gives some insight to the novel and encourages someone else to take the plunge and start the book.

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7 people found this helpful

So tedious I had to shut it off

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I guess I am in the minority on this too. I listen to audible while I am working out or in the car. I need a compelling story. I love a well written book though. Not one for simple minded literature BUT I tried and tried to stay with this one getting frustrated and shutting it off. I only stayed with it because of all the good reviews, but realized today that life is too short. The author goes into so much detail with her descriptions that I found myself day dreaming. Scary thing is when I realized I was day dreaming I hadn't missed a thing. Looking for a new book today. God I am so glad to have this book out of my life now.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Anything but this book.

Was The Goldfinch worth the listening time?

No

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7 people found this helpful

I loved this great book

I loved this book. The narrator, who we meet when he is 13, recounts the often amazing story of how he, by chance, comes into possession of a priceless work of art, and over the many years of his life his connection with it and the often unseen control it exerts over his life.
The story itself is well plotted, a large (though not sprawling) machine with many cogs that work in wide, eccentric arcs; but what makes the book great is the deep insight into human connections and the often breathtaking quality of the prose, especially as it relates to those above mentioned connections.
I give nothing away by revealing the central character of the novel, Theo, loses his mother early in the book and the passages about his grief and longing for her are painfully, concisely accurate and movingly expressed. After her sudden and painful departure, Theo's life becomes a study in various kinds of deeply felt loneliness, but, by contrast, in a way the book is about the connections we make; the starkness of his isolation makes the glow of the love and friendship he finds and struggles with all that much stronger. In particular the central relationship is the one between him and the painting itself and even the simple physical descriptions of the painting are informed and radiant. And, of course, since it's a Donna Tartt novel there is a dream sequence that is absolutely electric, I don't know if it's fair to call this a trope of hers but it's something she writes exceptionally well and you spend half the novel looking for it and when it arrives it does not disappoint.
I have read all three of Donna Tartt's novels ( I really loved 'the Little Friend' ) and I would have to say I think this one may be my favorite.
The narrator does an excellent job, he has consistent voices for each character, he has a great instinct for delivery and his voice is a great match for this story, it's hard for me to think of Theo and not hear his voice.
I would just like to say, one more time, this is a great, great book. It starts strong, and goes and goes and mostly does not disappoint. I don't leave a lot of reviews but every now and then, and I'm sure you've had this experience, you read something so good you just want to tell everybody. great book, please go and enjoy.

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5 people found this helpful

Disjointed and unimpressive

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I have never read or listened to any books by Donna Tartt before. I mostly listen to biographies/non-fiction while I commute and wanted some easier listening and chose this book based on the reviews. I was hoping for a suspenseful/engaging story. Sadly I found the story meanders along in a disjointed fashion lacking the suspense to carry it well. The characters are not particularly interesting or appealing. It would seem the author is trying to wax philosophical near the end, bringing meaning to be book, but she falls short. I found myself looking forward to the end so I could move on to my next title.

Would you ever listen to anything by Donna Tartt again?

No

Have you listened to any of David Pittu’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

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3 people found this helpful

Compelling, compulsively listenable, unorigional

This was a page-turner for me (or whatever the audio equivalent is), by the time we got to Vegas I was completely sucked in. I found the plot quite engaging and surprising, if contrived. The main character isn't particularly likable, but I don't think he is supposed to be, he's a bit blank, the better to draw you in and make you imagine yourself in his shoes. Boris and Hobie are, of course the standout characters of the book and they are both completely charming. Because you get such a claustrophobic perspective, always inside Theo's head, it's quite a depressing listen and actually this is one of it's best qualities, Tartt is a master of pulling you in and dragging you down.

Why the three stars? It ultimately doesn't live up to what it promises. This is almost bound to happen when one writes a book that centers around an artistic masterpiece, the author can't help but write a bunch of claptrap about the nature of art which is almost never a good idea (the authors who do pull this off successfully are called geniuses because they are so rare). On top of that, the big reveals about the central plot device just aren't satisfying, Tartt seems to have written a nihilistic book but tacked on some borderline new-age spiritual 'meaning' at the end. If this is really Theo's big epiphany, he'll be using again by the end of the year.

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3 people found this helpful