The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I have no idea how to rate this book. The second and third quarters are a good novel. The first quarter I had a hard time getting into, and the last quarter felt like an essay on all the themes that the author had tried to weave into the story but never really managed to fully integrate. If the first and last quarter were chopped into bite-sized pieces and scattered throughout the book, then I think it might have been perfect.
I really liked Tartt's writing, even though her structure left something to be desired. Pittu's narration in the audio version, all 32.5 hours of it, is very enjoyable. He did start out a bit over emphatic at the beginning, but once more and more characters emerge he really shines. I'd listen to more books voiced by him.
I think in the end I need to separate what I thought of the book itself from my sense of accomplishment for having made it through. 3.5/5 for the book, 5/5 for I can't believe I read the whole thing.
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