The Year In Books ~ January

I've finished my first book for the on-line book club organised by Karen at A Quiet Corner, linking with Laura at A Circle of Pine Trees. You are invited to just choose a book each month and do a post about it. 

 I've been reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. This book has been ten years in the making, and at over 700 pages long you can see why. There's been a lot of hype about it in the press, with claims that it is like a modern day Dickens classic.

Thirteen year old Theo takes a painting from a gallery after the explosion that kills his mother, and the rest of the book deals with the impact of that decision on his life in the ensuing years. I won't go in to any more details  .... in case you might want to read it too.

At first, I was enthralled by the writing. The descriptions are so detailed and vivid, I couldn't put it down. Theo's grief at the loss of his mother is painfully raw, and as his life spirals into a giddy maelstrom you can feel his hopelessness at the lack of control he has over where he lives and who is supposed to be caring for him.

As the novel progressed though, I realised that I didn't like the adult Theo had become, and I was just plain annoyed as the book descended into a study of addiction and crime. At  about two thirds of the way through I was just longing for it all to finish, and I know I was skimming the final chapters,  just so I could find out what happened in the end.

So, would I recommend The Goldfinch? Yes, if you've got plenty of time on your hands, and you don't mind reading a book where the main characters are quite unpleasant.

Hand on heart I couldn't honestly say I enjoyed it, but it has had many more favourable reviews than mine!


For February, I'm re-reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

I read this ages ago, but the film is coming out at the end of the month and I want to read the book again before I go to the cinema. I remember being blown away by this book, and I've had the same reaction from friends who have read it too.