The Goldfinch discussion

For those of you who haven't already heard, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is the winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and labeled as One of the New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of 2013. This comes as no surprise to me!

In a nutshell, the book is about Theo Decker, a 13-year-old boy in New York who miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. On an impulse and to please a stranger hurt in the explosion, Theo takes both a small but famous painting from the museum and a family heirloom ring (belonging to the man). Previously abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the wealthy family of a friend from school. As Theo becomes part of the family, his father mysteriously shows up and whisks him off to Las Vegas. Struggling to survive in a world very different than where he came from, all of Theo's decisions and experiences are influenced by that one day of disaster; the tragic loss of his mother, the ring he received from the dying man and the potential repercussions of stealing the famous painting.

The Goldfinch is not a short story by any means. The book has 784 pages in print and 758 on the Nook. Although lengthy, this was a quick read for me! I made it through faster than several of the much shorter books I've read recently simply because it was so good! I couldn't put the book down, eager to see what was in store for Theo around each corner. I do, however, regret purchasing the book on my Nook. I wish I had bought it in print instead. The author writes with a lot of detail jam-packed on every page and it would have been easier for me to flip back and double check details -like I sometimes do- with the actual book in my hands.

Following Theo from childhood to adulthood, The Goldfinch ponders the recurring themes of life, death, love, betrayal, addiction and fate. Throughout the story, several very influential people in Theo's life are introduced and chronicled including his mother, his father, Andy, Mrs. Barbour, Pippa, Hobie and Boris. What relationship do you think was the most significant? What about the most toxic?

I've heard rumors that the film rights to this book were purchased and it may become either a movie or a TV miniseries. Which would you prefer? I was excited to hear it might become a movie and am equally curious about the possibility of a miniseries...

As far as the ending goes, I've heard more than a few people say that they felt like the novel fizzled out toward the end and that it didn't finish with as big of a BANG! as they expected. Others have actually said they wish the book would have been longer to tie up more of the loose ends! I was slightly disappointed that the ending wasn't more concrete. While the conflict with the painting was resolved, most of Theo's personal dilemmas were not. He seems to be on the mend in the final pages, as far as his mental state is concerned, but we never really find out where he ends up in life.

Maybe some of those unanswered questions will be answered in the future on the big screen?!

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Next up on The Reader Board:

Room by Emma Donoghue.