The Goldfinch

If you're expecting a book with a clear "point" or philosophical message, this might not be the book for you.

That being said, this is an excellent book from a storytelling perspective. Seeing Theo's entire life journey unfold really makes you care about both him and the other characters. I will definitely re-read this just to relive the story again.

Mostly when I read books I have some sort of idea where the author is going and what point they are trying to make, but not with this book. It just seems to meander on and on. I felt I had to finish it but was left with a disapointing sense of ‘Is this really it?' I don't have a problem with depressing books or emotionally scarred protagonists but I didn't really find this book had much of an emotional resonance, perhaps because I found the narrator quite annoying, particularly with the ham-fisted philosophy. Theo didn't develop as a character, he just seemed to stay 13 in my head, probably because of all the drug taking. It ended up feeling a bit like reading a rather pretentious YA novel with added drug addiction.

I bought this book at the reduced price of 99p at Christmas time not because I had a burning desire to read it but mainly based upon the reviews previous readers had accredited it with and the fact it sounded intriguing.

When I began reading I wasn't quite sure what to think, it was based in present day to begin with which was strange to me as from what the blurb had said it had to me suggested a slightly historic time frame. It begins in a hotel in Amsterdam with main character Theodore Decker clearly in some significant trouble and talking about how he feels responsible for the death of his mother.

From this point we are taken back to 13 year old Theo's world and the day of his mothers death which we learn is not his fault but leads to an act on Theo's part which will shape his whole future and a chance meeting with a stranger which will lead him to people who will become very important to him.

This book is a masterpiece in 700 pages, it has dark points and is a gritty read. It's characters are shade and light, as exemplified by the character Boris who is Theo's best friend. A Russian illegal immigrant with a propensity for drugs and drink who leads Theo down some very dark paths. He is also Theo's saviour at points and a true friend. There are a real variety of characters throughout who flit in and out of Theo's life bringing our story through a multitude of varied and often nail biting scenarios.

This is a book not for those uncomfortable with ongoing pages about gratuitous drug and alcohol use. I began to get a little weary of it at points but it is central to the storyline. It is a book which at points pulled me along so fiercely I wanted to shut myself away in a room and just read and read till I had absorbed it all.

It is not the best book I've ever read, it didn't fit my normal genre but I have a distinct feeling it will have imprinted itself on me more deeply than many books I've read so cleverly was it crafted and so different from other novels in it's telling. I was tempted to give 5 stars but felt unfulfilled by the end almost willing myself to have a happy ending that never came.