THE GOLDFINCH BY DONNA TARTT REVIEW

I have just finished “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt and would thoroughly recommend it. It is a rare luxury in this day and age to be able to find the time to read a full sized novel in less than a month. You would think that the rules we have for our book group choices would consist of things like: historical relevance, author choice, topical suitability and so on, but no, our number one top priority is size. Size matters in a book group full of busy people. Which is why I’m not entirely sure how Donna Tartt’s new novel, 11 years in the making slipped through our strict entry policy. We didn’t have a hard copy to look at and the Kindle version really doesn’t do the 3D effect justice at all. Admittedly we do all tend to agree to a slightly bigger tome for the summer – but this one is huge. You need time and space to enjoy it and although I found that I had to be super-anti-social on my recent trip to Spain in order to gulp it all down, I did manage to get through over half of it and then had to allocate several more days almost exclusively to it in order to finish it.

But, the fact that I made the time and effort says all that needs to be said. It is well worth it and I thoroughly recommend that you try and make the time to luxuriate in a very fine story. You can’t read it fast as every word counts as she weaves her intricate layers, creating depth and substance and fascination.

A lot of people have criticised her for it being too long and that she should have used an editor to cut it back. I’m certainly glad I wasn’t asked to be her editor because I wouldn’t have known which bit to cut out.

Yes, another criticism is that the main protagonist is hell bent on self destruction and far too obsessed with his own worries, but I disagree. Her descriptions of his state of mind are fascinating post the trauma of him losing his mother in catastrophic circumstances and for me, her words created a real character that I could see and almost feel in my mind.

The story about art theft makes this book appealing to all sexes and almost all ages – again I note another criticism in one of the elite New York reviews is that “it’s a children’s book for adults”. A Harry Potter-esque story with no substance. Really? My children would struggle with the parts of the book without doubt. This is no easy read. I do think that perhaps it can be enjoyed on several different levels and maybe if you’re not into the psychological damage aspect (like I am) you get less of the layers to absorb. It’s rare to find a novel that succeeds in stimulating the mind whilst touching the heart – it is clever, brave, deeply moving and yet she still manages to make it a real page turner. I can see the film already.

It made me think and question and she’s managed to create a sense of a bigger picture – that we are all just cogs in a much bigger wheel and whilst once again the ending was criticised for merely being tacked on, I disagree, I think she throws something important out there and even taking away from the painting for a minute there were life messages to be had and hopeful ones at that:-

“Whatever teaches us to talk to ourselves is important: whatever teaches us to sing ourselves out of despair” and she directs an urgent plea to her reader which resonated with me “That life-whatever else it is-is short. That fate is cruel but maybe not random. That Nature (meaning Death) always wins but that doesn’t mean we have to bow and grovel to it. That maybe even if we’re not always so glad to be here, it’s our task to immerse ourselves anyway: wade straight through it, right through the cesspool, while keeping eyes and hearts open.”

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