400 pages in and I...believe I have reached the point in The Goldfinch where people talk about it dragging. And I get it. But I don't care! I nearly burst into tears at the catharsis of his cross country journey.
It started dragging for me in Las Vegas, and I put it down forever. First time I've ever read a novel that felt like it was written in real time.
The Vegas stretch was what has me stanning! It reminded me of the hazy stupor of the second half of The Secret History. The friendship with Boris and his relationship with his dad was fascinating, particularly how she withholds details until it's time to go. I also stan To Paradise though so I think the lit nerd in me just falls for these wordy 700+ page tomes by design.
On the note of Babel, I did really adore it but ironically I felt like it could've used a slight trim in the final part. Please report back on your thoughts @Trinu 3.0!
I found the premise of The Goldfinch just a bit ridiculous. Becoming obsessed with a girl he caught a glance off, and then turning up at her house randomly and being taken in? Utterly bizarre. I saw it described somewhere as ‘YA written for adults’, which kind of makes sense to me.
I loved the Vegas section though - by far my favourite part of the book.
I loved the Vegas section though - by far my favourite part of the book.
Not me cursing her ksdjfkladf
Wired dropped a feature dragging him and now everyone and their moms is up in arms.
Sanderson himself answered to the article on his own reddit.
I have only read Mistborn (his most popular work) and I found it pretty underwhelming for all the hype that surrounnds it. But this article was so unnecessarily cruel I can't find but feel some sort of sympathy for him... and now I kinda want to read more? fffff
In todays Guardian there’s an excerpt from this book. I might have to buy a copy!
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2...-michael-cragg-extract?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Mvnl
Staff member
Yeah I have no idea how he fills over 500 pages with this but this feels tailormade for me.
I’m tearing through Birnam Wood, Eleanor Catton’s new one. No surprises, it’s excellent. I love that she chose to follow up The Luminaries with something so dramatically different in almost every conceivable way - it’s pacy, contemporary, immediate and exciting.
Catton is really one of the best we have.
Catton is really one of the best we have.
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So I loved Bret Easton Ellis' 'The Shards'. One of his best. And a whole page dedicated to Kim Wilde!
Finished The Goldfinch and I have to admit it's a 10/10 for me. That prose is just ridiculously strong and I don't know what it says about me that the protagonist resonated with me in the final stretch as much as he did. As much as I loved The Secret History I...think this one just barely edges it, if only because it built on similar themes and ultimately felt more decisive in its narrative conceit.
I think you've sold me. That's on the list now.
I enjoy this Savidge reads feed, would recommend
https://instagram.com/savidgereads?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Actually I was wondering exactly the same.