Donna Tartt
Little, Brown and Company 2013
Genre: Adventure, Fiction, Action, Drama
Theo Decker sits in a hotel room in Amsterdam. He searches through the Dutch papers and looks for his name amongst the headlines featuring pictures of police cars and murder. He reflects on how is life is in total and complete ruins. He thinks back to when it all started. Theo is a teenager he and his mother live in New York, they are both off for the day. Theo has been suspended from school, he and his mother have a meeting with the principal. On their way they are caught in a rainstorm and decide to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. On the way there Theo wishes they were going for breakfast, he is hungry and is feeling daggers toward anything and everything. His mother’s favourite painting The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius is on display and she is eager to see it. While walking around the museum, Theo notices a young girl about his age with red hair walking with an older gentleman. He doesn’t think she is beautiful in the traditional sense. But he can’t help but notice her to him, she is lovely. He wants to talk to her so badly, he is thinking about it, as his mom explains she will be back. That is when there is a huge white hot explosion. When Theo wakes he tries to walk out. There is debris everywhere, and bodies he picks items up along the way. He sees the old man that was walking with the red head girl. He tries to help him, he gives him some of the water he found and tries to make him comfortable. The old man, Welty, is rambling not making much sense. The old man urges Theo to take The Goldfinch, and his ring to an address. Theo doesn’t want the painting to be ruined, it is his mother’s favorite. So he does. The old man passes away and Theo tries to get out of the museum. He doesn’t see anyone else alive. Theo makes his way out of the museum in the back, and goes home. That is where they agreed they would always meet. Only, she never comes home. Theo is alone with the painting.
Theo Decker sits in a hotel room in Amsterdam. He searches through the Dutch papers and looks for his name amongst the headlines featuring pictures of police cars and murder. He reflects on how is life is in total and complete ruins. He thinks back to when it all started. Theo is a teenager he and his mother live in New York, they are both off for the day. Theo has been suspended from school, he and his mother have a meeting with the principal. On their way they are caught in a rainstorm and decide to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. On the way there Theo wishes they were going for breakfast, he is hungry and is feeling daggers toward anything and everything. His mother’s favourite painting The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius is on display and she is eager to see it. While walking around the museum, Theo notices a young girl about his age with red hair walking with an older gentleman. He doesn’t think she is beautiful in the traditional sense. But he can’t help but notice her to him, she is lovely. He wants to talk to her so badly, he is thinking about it, as his mom explains she will be back. That is when there is a huge white hot explosion. When Theo wakes he tries to walk out. There is debris everywhere, and bodies he picks items up along the way. He sees the old man that was walking with the red head girl. He tries to help him, he gives him some of the water he found and tries to make him comfortable. The old man, Welty, is rambling not making much sense. The old man urges Theo to take The Goldfinch, and his ring to an address. Theo doesn’t want the painting to be ruined, it is his mother’s favorite. So he does. The old man passes away and Theo tries to get out of the museum. He doesn’t see anyone else alive. Theo makes his way out of the museum in the back, and goes home. That is where they agreed they would always meet. Only, she never comes home. Theo is alone with the painting.
(Picture courtesy of Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Goldfinch_(painting))
I can go on and on about the painting. It evokes a lot in me. The sadness, the colours, the hopefulness. I love it. Take a moment and look at it. Really stare. What do you feel? But this isn’t about the painting. It’s about the book. I have no idea how I feel about this book. Honestly. I didn’t write this review right away. I was waiting, thinking about it, and pondering this book. How did it make me feel? Why did I feel that way? Why did I react this way? And I STILL have no clue. In the end, all I can say is, it is a good book because of that. It made me feel, and I had to think about it. I am still thinking about it now. Can I pick a theme? Yes (Loss, pain, obsession, unrequited love), but does it matter? No. There was so much. I started this one on vacation and finished it at home, which was best, as I needed the time to absorb.
This is purely how I am as a reader and as a person, but I have very little tolerance for drug and alcohol abuse. I understand that Theo had severe PTSD, and abandonment issues. But he had a strong mother, who would have been so very disappointed in him. Throughout the whole book I kept thinking what if your mother could see you right now? What would she say about that? Do you think this would make your mother happy? There was a point in the book, and if you’ve read it you’ll know when I mean. When it was all still so new, that had he pushed and stayed where he was he would have had a different life. Everything would have been ok for him. Had he not been pushed to leave, had he stood up for himself it would have been fine. As a reader I was disappointed. I kept waiting for him to redeem himself. I wanted that reconciliation, that happy ending. The irony in the novel was painful at times. Theo puts himself through so much and yet, if he hadn’t then he would have had a different life.
In that same light, there were times when reading the book it all seemed so ridiculous that anyone could be so stupid I thought Theo would wake up in his bed, the morning before the museum, and change his life. But that doesn’t happen. I was waiting for maturity to hit, for him to realize that you have to live with your actions forever. For him to stop acting like life was a hustle. That discord made me uncomfortable and edgy. Everything he did made me edgy. I know what you are thinking “Elyse you’re such a lame-o, lighten up” I can’t! It’s how I am!!! Theo moves from vice to vice. Everything can be an addiction to him people, drugs, even work. It drove me NUTS.
BUT, this is a beautiful novel. The words, and the images they evoke are gorgeous. I loved her words, how she put things. It was simply magnificent. There was a lot of buzz about the length. How the book was too long, how there was parts that should have been cut out . When I read that, I asked myself “what could she have cut?” Despite the fact that it was uncomfortable. Despite that I didn’t like Theo. Despite that it was dark. What was unnecessary? It was all important story development. If you are going to pick this book up, you are in for a long haul. But it is beautiful. The characters are all important too. They all evoke something in Theo. Their actions, their personality, or what they mean to him. Even their quirks are important. I found that it was so complex, as I evaluate the themes I found that I was surprised at how complex it was. When you look at other characters and think about them, they are going through similar situations in there own way. It was so lovely. In the end, this book makes me think, and evaluate why I thought or felt that way. And it was beautiful to read.
This is my last vacation read post. As you can see I finished it at home with a nice cup of tea. I really hoped you liked all the vacation recommendations. Next week, I have something a little different. I hope you like that too!
My
Verdict: Give it a try
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Did you feel for Theo? Or were you done with him? What did you think of Boris? What did you think of this book? Were you as confused by your emotions as I was?
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If you liked this, try:
All the Light We Cannot See
Life After Life
The picture on the cover of the book is very intriguing and would make me pick it up; a sneak peak at what it to come. The painting itself is even more beautiful, simple and clean but then the shading adds the depth and as you noted complexities stirring up those emotions. Not a book I would necessarily be able to power through the way you did but I’m glad you read it and, as with your previous book reviews, have given me a great insight into whether or not it might be a book I’d like to read. Thanks for writing. I adore that you highlighted your Belleek teacup and plate on this review.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diana! I am so glad that you liked this post. I appreciate you reading the blog and leaving such a nice comment. I hope that you like the next one too!
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