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Book Review of The Goldfinch: A Novel

The Goldfinch: A Novel
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THE GOLDFINCH was the December 2014 pick in my neighborhood book club.

I flat out cringed when this was chosen because 1) it's over 700 pages and I couldn't fathom doing that to myself at Christmastime, and 2) it won a Pulitzer, which nowadays screams BORING book for BORING people. (◕‿-)

Well, guess what? With this tome, my hunch was right! The life of Theo Decker had a couple of interesting moments that shined with potential (a notable scene in Las Vegas with his loser father) but they ended up being snuffed out by a narrative that felt too much like a run-on sentence to be enjoyable! I mean, I get itliterary fiction is the playground of pretentious linguistic acrobatics that can either demonstrate an author's savvy way with words, or their ability to use ten words when four will do!

Geesh. 771 pages! I'm all for intelligent writing, but don't most readers also need a story to be compelling and engaging to keep their eyes from glazing over in total boredom?

Bottom line? I so couldve done without reading this uneven, pointless book and I can hardly wait for our book club meeting so I can share exactly how wonderful a choice it was for December! (¬‿¬) I give it a C-