The Goldfinch

I'm 2/3 through and really hating this book. I'm really tired of reading about the misadventures of this little psychopathic junkie who never makes a good decision. At this point, I really detest the protagonist and don't much care what happens to him.

So, I guess that the “goldfinch” symbolizes Theo, who is bound by his addictions and trauma. Is that about it? Otherwise, Tartt has written a novel that reads as if it were co-written by Dickens and Dostoevsky, with the most annoying qualities of both. Double the bathos, double the prolixity.

I've read books about antiheroes that were worthwhile and enjoyable. This one is not. In the beginning, I sympathized with Theo because of his trauma. By the midpoint, though, it became clear that Theo's character disorder is inborn and not a result of his mother's death. He is simply a weak, addictive, sociopath just like his father. Hard to see any redeeming qualities.

The endless, pointless minutiae of the writing cries out for editing. This story might have made a good short story. It's a miserable novel.

I know that, based on the reviews and the awards, many people will disagree with me. I'm extremely puzzled about the highly favorable reviews. Of course, I'm also puzzled about the popularity of reality TV, which involves millions of people hanging on the shenanigans of detestable people. Coincidence?