Monday, January 6, 2014

The "It" Book


Every now and then a book comes out that creates a lot of excitement. It captures the popular imagination and everyone seems to be reading it. You hear about it from your friends, discuss it at dinner parties, read about it in the paper, and see it on the bestseller list. It is prominently placed in your local bookstore, that is...if they have any copies left. My neighborhood book store was recently sold out and had to order it for me. Two copies actually, as I gave one to my daughter for Christmas. 

Right now that book is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I would say this book is the IT book of the new year. It actually came out in October of 2013, but right now there seems to be a huge buzz about it. In an amazing coincidence, the book's publication date in October fell on the same exact date that an Exhibition of Dutch paintings opened at The Frick Museum in New York. An exhibition that includes "The Goldfinch," a 1654 masterpiece by Carel Fabritius, the painting at the center of Donna Tartt's new novel. And if you are reading the book, you know how important the painting is to the plot of this novel. You can see why there would be a lot to talk about at your next book club or dinner party! And why there are record crowds at the Frick.    

Have you read it?  I am in the middle and have to resist moving beyond mid-point until after Wednesday night. That is when my book club is discussing the first half. Upon reflection, I think this was not such a great idea. Who knew this would be one of those books you can't put down? This is what happened -- when I suggested The Goldfinch as our next book club choice, I disclosed that the book is 800 pages long. Most of us didn't want to commit to reading an 800-page book in one month,  so we decided to do it in parts. Little did we know that not finishing it would be so difficult! In fact, some of our members, unable to resist, have gone on to read it to the end, but have promised not to give anything away.

"The Goldfinch" painted in 1654 by Carel Fabritius
Currently being exhibited at The Frick Museum in New York

The book is about a young boy, the 13-year-old Theo, who one day ducks into the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York with his mother during a rain storm. The relationship with his mother is the most important one of his life, since his father left them a long time ago and he has no siblings. They wander around separately looking at art with a plan to meet shortly. An explosion occurs and, as Theo digs his way out of the rubble, he encounters an old man who begs him to save "The Goldfinch" from destruction and also gives him a gold ring which Theo is to to take to "Hobart and Blackwell. Ring the Green Bell." The old man dies and after Theo unsuccessfully searches for his mother, he leaves the museum with the painting and the ring and goes home to wait for her return.

The book takes off from this point and becomes almost impossible to put down. Theo's adventures begin. He is as alone and adrift as any of Dickens' most famous orphans, and in fact, the book has many characteristics of the great novels by Dickens. Like many of Dickens' characters, Theo is a child with no power at the mercy of the adults around him. He will have to deal with the bad and menacing ones, but also the good and kind ones, just as in any novel by Dickens. James Hobart, the former business partner of the dying man at the museum, is one of the good and kind ones. He runs an antiques restoration business and Theo becomes friends with him as well as an apprentice. Hobie is a Dickensian character in his goodness and eccentricity and the scenes in his workshop and home have a coziness and warm domesticity that appeal to Theo. 

There is also a beautiful young woman, the granddaughter of the old man, whom Theo fleetingly gets to know and love, and from whom he is abruptly separated. This may be his Estella, though I am not far enough along to know. And then there is perhaps the most vivid character in the book: Boris, the young and wild Russian who becomes Theo's best friend and with whom he gets into a lot of trouble when he moves to Las Vegas to live with his unscrupulous father. Boris is one of those larger-than-life characters you will never forget. These two seriously neglected boys find solace in their friendship and have some incredible and raucous adventures together. In the meantime, Theo's father is up to no good and there is a menacing feeling to much of the Las Vegas section.  

There is obviously so much more to come. In the first half of the book, the fact that Theo is still holding onto the precious painting never leaves the reader's mind and creates an ominous atmosphere that pervades everything. We can only wonder where it will take Theo. I will be anxious to pick up the book on Thursday so I can find out!

The novel has inspired record-breaking crowds at the Frick Museum in New York. There is another  much more famous painting in this exhibition: Vermeer's "The Girl with the Pearl Earring." It even has its own room at the Frick. However, it turns out that "The Goldfinch" is the second most popular painting in this exhibition because of Donna Tartt's new book. Now if I could just figure out a way to get to New York before January 19th, when the show closes...I would love to know if you were able to see this exhibition. I am sure it was wonderful! 

20 comments:

  1. Besides being such a good read (your review), I think readers are also fascinated by Donna Tartt and the fact that she spends years writing her books. She took the literary world by storm with her first novel and that probably generated a storm for this novel. I'll have to get a copy. Thanks for the info.

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  2. If only that exhibition were coming to London, but it's not. I can't think of anywhere more perfect to see it, though, than the Frick.

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  3. This book was one suggested for our book club but didn't win the most votes (it did get mine). I then decided to put it on my Christmas wish list and I think I received every other book on the list but this one. Our book club meets on Sunday and I am going to suggest this one again and regardless if it's selected I will be purchasing this one.

    I've enjoyed some of your older book posts and was intrigued by Nancy Mitford and Angela Thirkell. I am purchasing a couple titles from each author from your recommendations.

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  4. This book was one suggested for my book club but unfortunately did not win the most votes (it did get mine). I then put it on my Christmas wish list and while I must have received every other book I listed this was not one of them. My book club meets this weekend and I will again suggest this book and regardless if it is the one selected I will be purchasing it.

    I also wanted to mention that I very much enjoyed some of your older posts on the authors Nancy Mitford and Angela Thirkell. I am going to purchase a couple titles from each of these authors.

    Your blog is complete loveliness and one of my favorites.

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  5. In our continuing coincidences, I just began reading the Goldfinch last night. You review comes at the perfect time, giving me just the background and incentive to enjoy all 800 pages. Thank you Sunday.

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  6. What a fine review! This novel is extraordinary as you point out. And just wait until you read the second half!

    I've been reading your blog for a few months now and I'm enjoying it enormously.

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  7. This book was one of my Christmas gifts to myself,have not started to read it yet,think your review topped
    the Daily Telegraph one.

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  8. Sunday, I am dying to read "The Goldfinch". It was listed as one of the top books of 2013. I think it is a great idea to split a rather long book into two meetings. My group read "A Team of Rivals" several years ago; I don't think they would ever agree to undertake another lengthy book. Loved reading your synopsis. I may need to wait till summer, but I will definitely pick it up. I am reading "Howard's End" again. It is our classic this year. I have to be on top of my game with the classics as they are so often challenged. Thanks again for the book rec. Bonnie

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  9. Thank you Sunday...I can always count on you for great book recommendations! I posted this onto my Facebook page..we all love a good read! I am reading "Open Secrets" by Alice Munro...a bookclub read. I have bookmarked Carlos Ruiz Zafon's latest book as well, "The Prisoner of Heaven". Loved the first two in the series.

    I hope you are enjoying Downton Abbey. I have the Season 4 DVD from England and saved it to watch along with American friends. I still have to start it..but fear I will not be able to stop at just one.

    Wishing you a very wonderful year Sunday...so glad we get to share another...

    Jeanne xx

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  10. I put myself on the library hold list for The Goldfinch, and I just checked and the next returned copy is mine! There are more than 200 people in line behind me. I am a little concerned about how I'll read 800 pages in the measly three weeks that our library allows. Still, if it's such a page-turner, I'll manage it.

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  11. I'm about halfway through The Goldfinch and love it. Right now, my life is a bit "upside-down" due to a serious illness recently diagnosed in my mother and I didn't think I'd be able to concentrate enough to continue reading it, but I have. It's that compelling. I did see the painting when the Dutch Master show was at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, but that was before I knew about the book. I was however, quite taken by the painting, and I remember it vividly, where it was hung, etc.

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  12. I SAW IT!The show was here in SAN FRANCISCO a few months back………….I remember the painting well as I was enchanted or horrified by his bracelet around his little foot!Sounds like a beautiful read….thanks for sharing!

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  13. I love that you wrote this post while at the halfway point in the book. Your excitement about it is infectious. Have you read any of Tartt's earlier works? I haven't and a few other reviews I've read of The Goldfinch have suggested that it's best enjoyed if you have, which has been the only thing holding me back from picking this one up.

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  14. I saw the show. My favorite was Rembrandt's painting, "Simeon's Song of Praise" (here is a link: http://www.frick.org/exhibitions/mauritshuis/145). In fact, every painting in the show was a gem. While I was there, I ran into a friend who told me she had read "The Goldfinch." I think it takes a lot of chutzpah for a young novelist to expect people to read an 800-page novel; did Tolstoy or Goethe write one of that length. I may try it, however, just to prove to myself that I was correct about the chutzpah. I will keep you posted.

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  15. It's working its way to the stop of my stack. Cannot wait to read it.

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  16. Saw Vermeer at our High Museum, result being, let's have more Vermeer, which is well nigh impossible; the "Pearl Earring" was just a teaser. Just realized, after seeing your post of "The Goldfinch" by Carel Fabritius, that it was the "souvenir" postcard I came away with from the High Vermeer exhibit. Now I wish I could go back and look at it again. My love of birds ranks right up there with my love of books. Perhaps I will read DT someday. For now, just not enough time to cover everything I want to read and have a life outside the book as well.

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  17. I have it on my ipad, but have not started it yet. You've inspired me to start.

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  18. Thank you for this interesting post, and with the Frick Collection, er, connection. Having read Donna Tartt's The Secret History three times, I'm excited to read The Goldfinch. How beautiful is that cover?

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  19. I've been hesitant about committing to this book's 800 pages--difficult to consider when so many other books are vying for my attention. But since I do try to take your advice on literary matters, I may just give it a go!

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  20. I was fortunate to be able to see that exhibition when it was in Atlanta. I saw The Goldfinch painting but didn't pay it a lot of attention since I was there to see Girl with the Pearl Earring. There were also some Rembrandts there, too, and I was captivated by those! I can't wait to read this book and see the Goldfinch again on the cover. i'll pay more attention this time!

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