The Goldfinch

By: Donna Tartt

Narrated by: David Pittu

Length: 32 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize For Fiction 2014

Longlisted – Baileys Women’s Prize 2014

Audie Award Finalist, Literary Fiction, 2013

Aged 13, Theo Decker, son of a devoted mother and a reckless, largely absent father, survives an accident that otherwise tears his life apart. 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 one thing that 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.

The Goldfinch is a haunted odyssey through present-day America and a drama of enthralling power. Combining unforgettably vivid characters and thrilling suspense, it is a beautiful, addictive triumph - a sweeping story of loss and obsession, of survival and self-invention, of the deepest mysteries of love, identity and fate.

©2013 Tay Ltd (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Best final chapter ever written

The end is superb. Just amazing. The rest of the story is not at that level but still a very interesting study on art, beauty and fate. Narrator just espectacular

Excellent narration brings book to life.

What made the experience of listening to The Goldfinch the most enjoyable?

David Pittu's narration. He was quite brilliant at giving voices to each character and thereby giving life to the story.

If you’ve listened to books by Donna Tartt before, how does this one compare?

Well I've actually read both of Tartt's earlier books (old school!). For me the last chapter breaking from the established style and delving into philosophical soliloquizing was a device that just didn't work. I don't remember this being an aspect of the earlier novels which I remember being all character and plot.

Which character – as performed by David Pittu – was your favorite?

James Hobart, or "Hobie"; main character's mentor

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely. A real "page-turner" if you can call an audio-book by that term.

Any additional comments?

Intriguing novel; I was completely drawn into the world of Theo for the first 3/4 of the novel. By the final quarter however I found myself somewhat alienated by the increasing preposterousness of the plot and repetitive ruminations of Boris (Pittu's narration saved the day there in my opinion), and I've already talked about the unsatisfying nature of the 'philosophical reflection' of the last chapter

Brilliant!

If you could sum up The Goldfinch in three words, what would they be?

Clever, thoughtful, compelling

What did you like best about this story?

I couldn't say

Which scene was your favorite?

So many great scenes. But perhaps the final one.

If you could take any character from The Goldfinch out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Hobie, I think he'd be so charming & fascinating.

Any additional comments?

The perfect marriage of story and narrator. David Pittu is brilliant. I will be looking out for books narrated by him from now on.

BEST. AUDIOBOOK. EVER.

What did you love best about The Goldfinch?

Everything. The narrator is wonderful. The characters are 'alive' ... the story believable.

What did you like best about this story?

Boris. I am in love with Boris.

Which character – as performed by David Pittu – was your favorite?

Boris! (see above)
But also loved Theo and Hobie. Even the awful characters are made interesting and likeable in a way...

If you could rename The Goldfinch, what would you call it?

The Goldfinch. This is actually a book with a name that is really suited to it.

Any additional comments?

Don't hesitate to listen to this book...it is 32 hours of your life you will not regret!

Brilliant

Beautiful, crazy story, dialogue, characters, surprises and the narrator is the absolutely amazing. So unpredictable, page turner.

Best book I’ve read in 10 years

A true masterpiece, story so complex and beautifully written that leaves you engaged at every step

'Optional' headline: It was okay.

David Pittu was amazing but the story is not one that I would read a second time. Only a small portion of it really captured me and about 2/3 of way in, it started to feel a tad long. The narration is what kept me going until the end.

Amazing

I really loved the story. It's a breath of fresh air. Characters are flawed but relatable. Real-life situations happen, lives are ruined, and there's no way to sugar-coat or truly fix what's happened. There's a lot of emphasis in depression and drug abuse, which I think was perfectly portrayed. My only real problem with the novel is the protagonist, Theodore Decker. This is, of course, a personal opinion, not everyone has to agree. He makes it a habit of his to make all the bad decisions he can, and has a very negative view of the world. This is perfectly understandable given the life he's lead, but it just seems to me that he didn't really change at all at the end. He still feels guilt and remorse for things that were out of his control, and doesn't see the beauty in living. On the other hand, I think his best friend Boris truly embodies the meaning of this novel, finding happiness in sadness.

Extraordinary story of boy's journey to adulthood

If you could sum up The Goldfinch in three words, what would they be?

Different, gripping journey. Don't let the length put you off.

What did you like best about this story?

The relationship between Theo and Boris

Which character – as performed by David Pittu – was your favorite?

Boris

Not my favorite

Theo's life story is so dark so depressing and so filled with drama an bad life choices, that the book becomes less and less relatable for me. That being said, the performance is quite slow I listened at1,5x.
I did like the introspective parts, where theo looks at what is happening and reflects