The Goldfinch

De: Donna Tartt

Narrado por: David Pittu

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize For Fiction 2014

Longlisted – Baileys Women’s Prize 2014

Audie Award Finalist, Literary Fiction, 2013

Aged 13, Theo Decker, son of a devoted mother and a reckless, largely absent father, survives an accident that otherwise tears his life apart. Alone and rudderless in New York, he is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. He is tormented by an unbearable longing for his mother, and down the years clings to one thing that reminds him of her: a small, strangely captivating painting that ultimately draws him into the criminal underworld.

As he grows up, Theo learns to glide between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love - and his talisman, the painting, places him at the centre of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.

The Goldfinch is a haunted odyssey through present-day America and a drama of enthralling power. Combining unforgettably vivid characters and thrilling suspense, it is a beautiful, addictive triumph - a sweeping story of loss and obsession, of survival and self-invention, of the deepest mysteries of love, identity and fate.

©2013 Tay Ltd (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Miserable story

Struggled to finish this dark, miserable story that only got worse towards the end. Don't waste 32h listening to this prescribed depression. Sorry, I really expected something spell binding after reading other reviews. Only reason I finished it is that I don't tend to quit on books.

Skip

Almost ok until the last few chapters - but after forgiving tons of inappropriate philosophising the terminal torrent with the author inserting herself into her three main characters to indulge is just too much - if M's reactions in Holland had been quicker it might have been bearable.

Fierce yet tender. Finding once middle zone

I will begin to say I loved this book. Ot is a deep search into meaning - the meaning of everything we encounter.
At times I felt the relationships Theo encountered were drawn out- stretched to the maximum, but just before I loose my interest , the storyline changes. I dont know how successful the film could ever be but as in now, I feel that it would be impossible to potray the vomplex and meaningful relationships of Theo and Boris. highly recommended

Review goldfinch

I'm not a great fan of the American accent however the narration was compelling. Couldn't stop listening. Why am I being forced to write a minimal number of words

Loved the book but it should've been 30% shorter

What made the experience of listening to The Goldfinch the most enjoyable?

Tartt's writing is, as usual, gripping. There were so many things I couldn't predict and kept wondering where this story could possibly go after X or Y happened. She sure knows how to keep a girl hooked!

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

I haven't but think he is a most excellent narrator. Really spot on with nuance and tone and loved how he could make the various voices sound so different from one another.

Any additional comments?

This really was a fanatastic book. It just went on too long in parts and I'm not sure I like the ending. It felt far too preachy and out of sync with the rest of the book.

great story and a great narrator

I really enjoyed this - highly skilled narrator & very interesting story. gets quite... floral in parts but overall an excellent audio experience

Too much padding

Too descriptive for me - the story could have been told in half the time.
I could not bond with the central character- he had so much detail in every description and emotion but was could never get what others were on about in conversation- always wanting clarification.
I persevered with the book to the very end as the narrator did a good job and I had time to kill however I found the story a bit on the boring side except for a few little dramas. Maybe it was a bit deep for me however all the drug use could have added the over the top depth.
This book was recommended to me by a friend
who ‘loved it’ therefore you will just have to be your own judge on this one.

Evocative performance

If you could sum up The Goldfinch in three words, what would they be?

Rambling, compelling, absorbing

What other book might you compare The Goldfinch to and why?

Although not similar in content, it brought to mind The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, for its rich characterisation, intricacy and detail of plot and extreme differences in locale (possibly also because the bulk of both books is set in New York).

Which character – as performed by David Pittu – was your favorite?

It's a toss up between Boris and Hobie.

Any additional comments?

David Pittu's performance was excellent. The characters all sounded distinct and his voice is very easy to listen to. That, added to Tartt's characterisation, created a book full of rich characters who were easy to picture.

Pure gold

Brilliant writing and amazing narration. At times you would find it a bit macabre and sad but underneath it's pure gold.

Kept me guessing

It is a very intriguing story, I never knew what was coming around the corner.