Do not abandon the journey as "The Goldfinch" is so worth the ride...
582456
The Goldfinch is beautifully written yet an unnecessarily long read.
I agree with readers who found the book's beginning and ending chapters beyond well written.
Tartt loses her audience with too much unnecessary detail as she builds her story.
My guess is that some may have put down the book altogether in the middle chapters as there were moments when I felt swallowed up in detail.
If only the author had used her words more judiciously, the book would be among my favorites.
My advice to potential readers is to not give up part way through as the end of their reading journey is well worth the ride!
522640
This is my favorite Donna Tartt book . . . not by far, but by a margin.  That's because, in my opinion, all three of her books are outstanding.  All three of her books are long, but each is worth the journey.  This book kept me in suspended anticipation throughout.  You can read a summary of the book elsewhere, so there's no need for me to play the literary reviewer here.  I'm not one, by the way.  The portion of Theo Decker's life journey that we're privy to is maddeningly agitating.  I worried about him from the beginning to the end with only a few periods of non-worrying along the way.  There's a dog in the book, too.  As an animal lover I also got to worry about the dog's future.  The Goldfinch is just a beautiful and well-written book.  Donna Tartt is a wonderful writer who fully deserves the Pulitzer Prize for this book.
3676661
When I was midway through this novel, I seriously considered abandoning it.  But I had complete faith in John Irving as one of the most masterful storytellers of the times.  I was glued to SON OF A CIRCUS.  I never wanted PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY to end.  I savored every page of THE FOURTH HAND.  But why was I so unconvinced about this book?  Until I finished it...and found out the whole truth...did the story have real meaning.  For weeks, it haunted me.  All of the pieces of Jack Burns' life had come together, and I wanted to read the book in reverse.  After just  finishing AVENUE OF MYSTERIES , a wonderful journey  with fabulous life lessons and strong opinions shared along the way,  I was compelled to find  UNTIL I FIND YOU and start at the every beginning now that I had found its real greatness.  So, keep on reading.... plough through the 800 pages.  You'll be properly rewarded for your patience.
3285389
impossible to put down, highly entertaining journey across generations, with unexpected turns leaving you on the edge of your seat all along
4757356
Had a hard time following it to start with. Not sure why. But the author repeated the story on several occasions and drew me back into the tale. I could not put it down. Best book I've read since "the Goldfinch".
295038
Wow. This book is so much more than a mother-daughter tale of a trip taken together. It is a beautifully written story about the yearning in all of us to find deeper meaning in our lives. Meyer's writing has both a melody and a harmony as she describes her quest. I loved the way she would weave loose themes and threads, seemingly left unfinished, and then miraculously, tie them together into the fabric of the story when least expected. The mother-daughter duo go on a journey tracing the footsteps of a Dominican friar from 500 years ago. I often marveled first at the amount of detail available from the original pilgrimage, but also at the similarity of their journeys, despite the separation in time between them. Meyer demonstrates courage in telling her personal story, in embarking on a trip of this magnitude (I'm in awe of the complexity of planning it alone!), and in sharing deeply personal details that enable the reader to both understand and relate. There is something timeless about pilgrimages and the intertwining of the friar and Kimberly/Ellie's stories brings this point home. Be prepared to learn a lot - Kimberly's depth of knowledge and her ability to distill history to the salient points and integrate it into her story is admirable. I recommend this book to people who love a good literary read. It would be a great 'book club' book because it offers so much to discuss - religion, the choices we make - the paths we choose and the ones we don't, mother-daughter relationships, the experience of being a traveler in far away lands...the list goes on.
4496143
I found the Goldfinch to be a very satisfying read considering it is over 700+ pgs.  For those that are lovers of Art paintings the background information that is weaved in the storyline should impress them and this is also true of antique furniture lovers.  The storyline held my interest and I found myself quite interested in knowning the outcome of Theo's( - the narrator) dilemma. The other characters in the story are an interesting lot as well.  From time to time it had its slumps but for the most part I truly enjoyed this book.
2361502
Not your typical travel log.  Expecting to read a series of anecdotes on adventures in Asia, I was pleasantly surprised and instantly engrossed as the author takes us on a journey that is both invigorating and thought provoking.  The end result is similar to a good film.  Vivid cinematography comes to life as the author threads his own coming of age as the mysticism of the East meets the stoicism of the West.  The finished product  leaves you wanting to book your next flight.  A must read, particularly to those who enjoy the complexities of the human spirit.
4801616
"Pleasure of Believing" is one of the most compelling books I've had the "pleasure" of reading in a long, long time. Staged along the backdrop of the rugged, western Wyoming countryside by day and spacious starlit skies by night, we are lured, word by word, into an adventure where one is held captive to the text on the page...yet perfectly willing to surrender to it. The author's descriptive passages are abundantly beautiful with words that roll off the page like lyrics to a song. The characters are interesting, well-rounded folks who capture our trust and mistrust at the same time. Neither angels nor villains, we follow their actions and reactions through a series of events which eventually lead to an unfortunate and avoidable tragedy. As a result of the author's passion and skillful story-telling, readers will have a more complete understanding and better appreciation for wildlife conservation and preservation. Bravo to Ms. Hobbet, and cheers to her next literary masterpiece!
4671277
The Goldfinch is simply one of the best contemporary novels I have read.  It is a black comedy, laced with existential musings and expert prose.  Donna Tartt's previous books were very good, but this one is a masterpiece.

Ignore the reviews that complain about this book's length.  The characters are brilliantly drawn and the story is gripping.  Yes, it is long, and yes, sometimes painful to read, but the plot's roller coaster ride is worth the price of admission.  Ignore the reviews that say the book promotes bad behavior.  It is an unapologetically amoral story, using humor and pain in an unblinking look at horrible family dynamics and characters who watch their lives spin out of control.  Can good come from bad, and bad from good?  Yes -- but we all know that.  Ignore the reviews that glibly classify this book as a "coming of age story" -- which by inference lumps it in with a lot of seriously awful contemporary fiction.  Is Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man a coming of age story?  Sure, I guess so, but so what?

Boris is one of the best characters anywhere in fiction, and Hobie and Andy are wonderful as well.  The narrator, Theo, is almost transparent, like the canvas on which the story is painted, less a character in his own right than a reflection of others and a vehicle for moral ambivalence.  Tartt's ear for dialog shows her perfect pitch, and Tartt's descriptions of human weakness are rare, compassionate, and amusing.

I finished this book about a month ago (listened to the audiobook, which was very well narrated) and have thought about it often, and wished there were something else this good to be reading right now.  But no such luck.  I guess I will have to wait another decade for her next one.
1514017
"The Stager" is one of those wonderful reads that takes you on a journey where you have no idea what will be the final destination. Full of colorful characters in complex relationships and predicaments, the reader becomes intrigued with each dysfunctional personality. I became particularly fond of Dominique the Rabbit who brings a kind of Alice in Wonderland aura to the storyline. This book is for everyone who enjoys unique, quirky stories that entertain but also provoke you to reflect on your own life choices and past indiscretions.
797181
A rare gem of an transformative travel literature that is part of multimedia experience including a recent film with the same name and a dazzling photo journal by the talented Rick Smolan (Inside Tracks). I highly recommend seeing the film as an appetizer to this, the main course. Robyn's journey across the Australian outback evolves on many levels; this is far more than a book about traveling through a spectacular desert with camels and a dog; it is the journey of a soul. The raw emotion and brutal honesty of her writing is mixed with the lyrical mystery of the desert sand, sky, animals and eclectic characters drawn to this fringe dimension. Rick Smolan's book is the icing on the cake, containing a time capsule reflection (from both Robyn and Rick) of what once was and is now the radical degraded remainder, as you might expect from the 30+ year erosive nature of "progress."

This is not a book for everyone. If you can tweet your mind's content in 140 characters, the book may progress too slowly ( it is nearly 2000 miles one step at a time.) I see many reviews from animal lovers who could not bare the seemingly brutal training of wild camels, but unless you can stretch beyond the limits of your cultural biases, you may not be able to see back the necessary 4000 years to the origins of their domestication and the time-tested methodology. Some rare animal lovers may match, but never surpass Ms. Davidson's love for her camels.

As someone who has lived most of my seven decades in the mountains of Appalachia and, more recently, the Colorado Rockies, the desert west is a more recent fascination. I thinks most desert lovers will like the book. I loved it like no other. I cried more than I would like to admit and laughed so often I had to refrain from reading it when my wife was around, annoyingly puzzled at my antics. This book has changed me and challenged me to think I may have one last adventure in me. Thank You, Robyn.
3646384
On the advice of a colleague, I reserved my copy pre-publication so I could take it on a recent flight. Thanx to a long delay on the tarmac, I read this in one sitting - no small feat for me, as I'm the slowest reader I know. At the risk of using a worn out cliche - this was a page turner. The best way I can describe this is The Goldfinch with a dark, sexy, erotic twist. If you enjoy mystery, intrigue, art, Paris, and quality literary fiction - you'll love it. Highly recommend.
2192953
I read "The Walk" after it was highly recommended by Glenn Beck on Facebook.  I downloaded a sample of the book on Amazon.com for my Kindle.  I read the sample, downloaded the book, and read it in a day.  The journey for Alan begins in Bridle Trails, Kirkland, WA which is just a short drive from Redmond, WA where I lived for 30 years.  Not only was the story captivating, but the journey across Washington State was like a visit back home for me.  When I finished "The Walk" I immediately pre-ordered "Miles to Go."  When I saw it had been released and I could download it to my Kindle, I did so and again, read the book in several sittings.  Not so much a journey of miles as a journey into the souls of those he meets on the road.  The stories bloom with spirit and change and the impact we all can make one one another's lives.  Angel will become a pivotal character in the series, I'm sure.  We get to meet Alan's father and how he encourages his son's quest to Key West while all the time wishing he would just come home.  The love in this story abounds.  Now I must wait until April to follow along with Alan on his journey, this will be an anticipation like waiting for Santa!  I posted on my wall on Facebook to all my friends that they really needed to read these two books and so far I know one person has purchased the books.  If you are reading this, I hope you do too.  Thank you Richard Paul Evans.
4150315
This is a beautifully written story, a fairytale for adults, grounded enough in the real world that its otherworldly creatures are vividly believable. I can't believe this is the first Neil Gaiman novel I've read, and I'm looking forward to reading more, to see how he creates other characters and settings. In this one, I wasn't fully satisfied with the ending (though I often feel that way with fiction) but the journey within was worth every minute reading it, and I'd read it again, if just to feel like the narrator when he's submerged in his friend Lettie Hempstock's ocean; it's a transcendent passage that I suspect is rooted in something deeply familiar to us all.
2107174
This book is a must on so many levels. First, for the somewhat reluctant but also mysterious adventure that we go on with young Charlie, a lovable, literal and anxious character. Second for Sally Pla's lyrical, engaging and page-turning style. And then, for the empathetic and I have to add, accurate, portrayal of a character on the Autism Spectrum. I am a psychotherapist who specializes in Austism Spectrum, so I am usually apprehensive about novels that reflect ASD characters. Well-intentioned authors don't always get it right, often leaving readers with misconceptions. Sally Pla gets it right in a beautiful way that sweeps us into the story, while staying true to the voice of young Charlies character. By the end of the story, I was cheering, crying and relievedbut also sad to say goodbye to this sweet, sweet boy. Kids will love the adventure (and possibly develop an interest in birding!) and grown-ups will appreciate a perspective that will provide an understanding of and empathy for differences.
793610
I rarely am overcome by emotion at the ending of a book, especially when I know how it must end. This book was the exception. I met so many interesting and complex characters in the book and I could understand and appreciate all of them. Dr. Cousins, the main character, was richly developed as he gains a new sense of relationship to the world as a result of his experiences. The train itself became a character as it hurtled across Siberia bringing all of the travelers to epiphanies in their lives. The descriptions were good enough to bring the train and the landscape to life, but were never intrusive. It was impossible not to form opinions about all the travelers, and about their eventual ends. The reader becomes enveloped in the story until it seems to be going on around you in life. If you read this book, you should be prepared to be entranced, captivated and totally involved. And you should read this book.