I put off reviewing The Goldfinch for so long after finishing it, because I was so stunned and impressed by it that I doubted I could do it justice with my jumbled, incoherent words. But it's about time I shared my absolute love for this book where everyone can see it - because, all things considered, I truly believe The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt ought to be considered a classic in its own right.
I know lots of people avoid the book because of its fame, the hype surrounding it, the freaking Pulitzer it won. Well, in my humble opinion, it not only lived up to this hype, but far exceeded it, becoming one of my favorite books of all time. I will universally recommend it, and here are the reasons why -
The writing style is so brilliantly evocative - the accuracy, the insight, the attention paid to tiny details - I have no words. The quality of the description alone is enough to make this novel remarkable, one that aspiring authors should read and learn from - but its merits don't end there. The Goldfinch resembles one of the great old classics in its glorious cast of characters, the intelligent philosophical bits, the complex, well-structured plot, the complex and relatable protagonist, the way the story follows his life and character development. I got David Copperfield vibes, because it's every bit as vibrant and complex in its social commentary and illustration of the life of a hurt young man and his yearning for love and happiness.
CONTENT WARNING: sensitive readers may be affected by the heavy swearing, graphic depictions of child abuse, drug addiction, depression, PTSD, and a scene where a character is preparing to commit suicide.
To summarize, in my opinion, The Goldfinch is no less than a modern masterpiece, and if you don't mind the slow pacing, I trust you'll fall in love like I did.
Oh. And the ending. The ENDING. I was sobbing in the wee hours of the morning. Enjoy~!