The Goldfinch
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 the thing that most 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.
“you can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again. you can also look at a picture for a second and think of it all your life.”
first impressions: falling in love with the goldfinch, twice
I had fallen in love with The Goldfinch after seeing the movie adaptation, and I was so excited to read Donna Tartt’s book. I knew that my love for this story would transcend mediums, and based on how much I adored the movie, I knew I would feel the same exact way about the book. If anything, I was anticipating liking the book even more, since I usually enjoy the book more than its movie counterpart in adaptations. And Donna Tartt did not disappoint me, even in the slightest.
I think what helped elevate my experience while reading this book was the time at which I read it. I read this book in October, and reading this book during the fall was the perfect move. While the story itself takes place throughout all of the seasons, the book really encapsulated the vibe of autumn in my eyes, and I absolutely loved this. It was a more serious book than the ones I usually read, and certainly more philosophical than my usual choices. But this didn’t take away any of my love for the story, and I found myself thinking of this book long after I finished it.
While I was watching it, I did find myself comparing the book to the movie, and vice versa. I was very happy with the adaptation, and it was interesting to read the book after I had already seen the movie. I don’t feel it took away from the story, and if anything, I think it just fostered a deeper connection. I knew going into it what the story would be, but I didn’t know how Tartt would portray it, or how the experience would differ between watching it and reading it. Overall, I pleasantly enjoyed both media formats, but especially enjoyed the book.
“caring too much for objects can destroy you. only—if you care for a thing enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn’t it? and isn’t the whole point of things—beautiful things—that they connect you to some larger beauty?”
the story: a study in grief and beauty
The Goldfinch had such a beautiful and captivating story, and everything felt as though it fit together perfectly. I loved the feelings and themes Tartt portrayed, and this book took such an interesting approach to handling grief and how it might show up in different people. Theo provided an interpretation of grief that I have not seen often, and it was interesting to see the different coping mechanisms he used to get through this very dark time in his life. For Theo, the painting of the Goldfinch served as a memory of his mother, and while ethnically he knew it was wrong to keep the painting, he morally couldn’t give it up. By letting go of the painting, this meant letting go of his mother, which created a devastating predicament for him. He had to battle with what he knew he should do and what he had to do to survive this period in his life, and I loved getting a deeper look into how grief affects your actions, and how this can put someone in a very troubling situation.
“when you feel homesick,’ he said, ‘just look up. because the moon is the same wherever you go.”
the relationship: a first love
My favorite aspect of this story was the relationship between Boris and Theo, and I first fell in love with them while watching the movie. I loved how Tartt portrayed their relationship in the book, and there was an even deeper complexity lying in the book than I had seen before. When they first met, they quickly became quite close, bordering on friends and something more. While it was heavily implied that there was something more romantic happening between them, Tartt explored the themes of connection during times of hardship and the evolving relationships throughout the course of the story. It felt like Boris was Theo’s first love, someone he clung to when he was struggling with his own family dynamics. They found each other in times of such darkness, and I thought it was brutally tragic watching as they grew so close, but eventually fell apart due to time and the distance between them.
“i had the epiphany that laughter was light, and light was laughter, and that this was the secret of the universe.”
the writing: every detail mattered
Donna Tartt was so descriptive with her language, and there was no aspect of the book that felt unimportant. Tartt wrote and described everything with a purpose, and this made the book so much more meaningful to me. She created this vivid world, and Tartt’s beautiful writing caused this story to start to blend into my own life. Each new location that we found ourselves in brought new characters and new experiences, and Theo got to explore multiple new dynamics as he battled these different stages of his life.
“we can’t make ourselves want what’s good for us or what’s good for other people. we don’t get to choose the people we are.”
final thoughts: prepare to be changed
I found myself falling in love with the passion and the energy surrounding the artwork, and how
passionately Tartt wrote. This book was honestly one of the more beautiful stories I have ever read, and while it is a very intense read, I would certainly recommend this book if you have the capacity to do so. Prepare for it to hit you very deeply and very strongly, but it is such a beautiful experience that I can promise you you won’t regret it. Good luck, everyone, and happy reading!