The Goldfinch

By: Donna Tartt

Narrated by: David Pittu

Length: 32 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Winner, Solo Narration - Male, 2014

Audie Award Winner, Literary Fiction, 2014

The author of the classic best-sellers The Secret History and The Little Friend returns with a brilliant, highly anticipated new novel.

Composed with the skills of a master, The Goldfinch is a haunted odyssey through present-day America and a drama of enthralling force and acuity.

It begins with a boy. Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his unbearable longing for his mother, he clings to one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art.

As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love - and at the center of a narrowing, ever-more-dangerous circle.

The Goldfinch is a novel of shocking narrative energy and power. It combines unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and breathtaking suspense, while plumbing with a philosopher's calm the deepest mysteries of love, identity, and art. It is a beautiful, stay-up-all-night and tell-all-your-friends triumph, an old-fashioned story of loss and obsession, survival and self-invention, and the ruthless machinations of fate.

©2013 Donna Tartt (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

Narrator David Pittu accepts the task of turning this immense volume into an excellent listening experience. Pittu portrays 13-year-old orphan Theo Decker with compassion, portraying his growing maturity in this story of grief and suspense…Pittu adds pathos to his depiction of the troubled Theo as he deals with addiction and finds himself in a dance with gangsters and the art world's darker dealers. ( AudioFile)

"Dazzling....[A] glorious, Dickensian novel, a novel that pulls together all Ms. Tartt's remarkable storytelling talents into a rapturous, symphonic whole and reminds the reader of the immersive, stay-up-all-night pleasures of reading." ( New York Times)

"A long-awaited, elegant meditation on love, memory, and the haunting power of art....Eloquent and assured, with memorable characters....A standout-and well-worth the wait." ( Kirkus, Starred Review)

Overly focused on drug use

The narrator was great but there was just too much focus on the drug usage for my taste-but not too bad overall

Mos def in my top 10

Just read or listen (excellent narration Sir) to this book. Post haste.

*Now this system's word counter is forcing further. Annoying.

GREAT STORY, PREFORMANCE, SARISFYING BOOK

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

YES IT IS INTERESTING, THE READER IS FANTASTIC AND I READ THIS BOOK IN ABOUT 5 SEPARATE SITTINGS....IT IS LONG BUT I WISH IT WAS LONGER. ANYONE I KNOW WHOULD LOVE THIS AMAZING BOOK.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Goldfinch?

IT WAS ALL MEMORABLE. I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED MOMENTS WITH HOBBIE,

What about David Pittu’s performance did you like?

AMAZING. WHAT A GREAT JOB. ON A SCALE OF 10-1 I GIVE THIS READER A 10000. HE READ DIFFERENT PEOPLE DIFFERENT WAYS. I LIKED THE WAY HE DID HOBBIE AND THEO'S DAD AS WELL AS ANDREW AND BORRIS.

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

DON'T ASK ME THIS. I DON'T WANT TO EVEN TRY.

Any additional comments?

THIS BOOK IS AMONG THE TOP 15 BOOKS. I WANT TO READ THIS WITH MY SIG. OTHER MIKE AGAIN SOON. I HAVE ABOUT 170-180 BOOKS.

A work of art about works of art

Where does The Goldfinch rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among the top.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Goldfinch?

The ongoing discourse on Russian vs. Western literary traditions and morality.

What about David Pittu’s performance did you like?

Great voice acting. Not irritating in any way. He's a tremendous talent.

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

Way too long for that, but yes, I didn't want it to end.

Best audio book

Lovee the narration, added depth to the novel. I looked forward to my daily commute so I could continue listening.

A Symbolic Tale of Art and Heredity

This is a story of pre-destination and the binding nature of heredity. The Goldfinch is symbolic of a life inexorably chained to a flawed family tree. The story was long and at times tedious but still held my interest because of the emotional connection between the reader and the main character. The narration was excellent. If you have time to commit to a 32 hour listen with an ending that leaves you saddened by the impact of a chaotic life, this book is for you. Otherwise, spend your time in happier pursuits.

A Book for a Lifetime

I'm a hard sell, but am sold. There's a solid message in this writing, a point so diamond-hard you can splice it, set it in gold and wear it... a sparkle to last. Donna Tartt's words thrilled my heart and, if I insist (and I do), have a role if my soul is ever to be truly saved. Some books are that powerful. The narrator made the reading sound effortless. He never once distracted me from the stream of a story I'll tell myself for the rest of my days. It gives me faith. In what? You'll see. You'll see.

Pat in Florida:

Great books! An indepth study of how we can be our own worst enemy. One not to miss - one to listen to again and again. The fear in the boy is palpable as well as the joy. A book about how our choices can tie us in knots until we finally have some insights.

I did not want this book to end.

Would you listen to The Goldfinch again? Why?

Yes, I will listen again and again. The story was so rich. I would want to revisit some of the passages now that I have reached the end. I miss hearing David Pittu's voice -- such a brilliant performance he puts in.

What other book might you compare The Goldfinch to and why?

There were shades of Great Expectations. The rhapsodic descriptions and suspension of linear time reminded me of Proust's Remembrance of Things Past. I think The Goldfinch is in the league of classics.

Have you listened to any of David Pittu’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first, but I will seek out more. He is terrific.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I savoured this book. It transported me and I felt changed after finishing. Theo's trauma was my trauma and I was truly invested in the resolution and conclusion of this story.

Any additional comments?

I haven't enjoyed a story so much in a very long time.

Excellent Book, Fantastic Performance by Pittu

Where does The Goldfinch rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The best

What did you like best about this story?

The story is compelling, the characters are wonderful, and it's hard to put it down. I am so glad I got this as an Audio Book. The reader is FANTASTIC!!!! He reads the book in the accents of all the different characters and his ability to imitate accents is incredible and is laugh-out-loud funny at times. The rich family from the upper east side, the Russian character Boris, the antique dealer - he has them all down perfectly. I love the book and LOVE Pittu, the Reader.