poppyshake

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt Amazon's Synopsis: Aged thirteen, Theo Decker, son of a devoted mother and a reckless, largely absent father, survives an accident that otherwise tears his life apart. Alone and rudderless in New York, he is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. He is tormented by an unbearable longing for his mother, and down the years clings to the thing that most reminds him of her: a small, strangely captivating painting that ultimately draws him into the criminal underworld. As he grows up, Theo learns to glide between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love - and his talisman, the painting, places him at the centre of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle. The Goldfinch is a haunted odyssey through present-day America and a drama of enthralling power. Combining unforgettably vivid characters and thrilling suspense, it is a beautiful, addictive triumph - a sweeping story of loss and obsession, of survival and self-invention, of the deepest mysteries of love, identity and fate. Review: This isn't an easy book to review so I've made it easier for myself by writing this a full three weeks after finishing I've only read one book by Donna before (The Secret History) but enjoyed it immensely .. there's something about her style of storytelling that immediately draws you in. This story was no different, in fact there were a lot of similarities, especially in the way the story is told. I did have a couple of niggles with it, she's very detailed and sometimes you can get a bit bogged down. I'm pretty sure she intentionally does this as just when you feel you're drifting off a bit the plot twists dramatically .. it's both unsettling and exciting ... you can go from reclined to the edge of your seat in no time. Despite all or any of these niggles, I never ever wanted to abandon the book .. quite the opposite, it's very readable and her characters get under your skin .. whether you love or hate them. It's a tome but one that reads easily. 4/5

Hope you enjoy it Janet Well I'm hoping it will get a lot better for you .. greatness at the very least Alan and I are fine thanks Janet xx

Yes .. totally You don't need to have read one to read the other. They are complimentary .. and if you get on with it you'll probably want to read the other but in any case Dear Lupin was first I think so you'd be starting in the right place For the most part I liked it ... the family are all a bit eccentric so that makes for good reading. Because the two children are so different (Lupin/Charlie and Lumpy/Louise) the letters Roger writes are different .. that is they have the same humour but Charlie was a bit of a delinquent so there was a lot more wailing and gnashing of teeth etc going on in Dear Lupin. Hope you are well lovely Janet

Fantastic Mr Fox .. what a brilliant film I love what they did with Roald's story. Really off the wall but still staying true to the main plot. Very clever. Earlier on I saw The Ladykillers .. probably for the hundredth time .. love it though

Gracious! .. he is sinking in my opinion by the minute. I still love the music but will have to remember him in retrospect Seems ridiculous that Penguin gave in to such a request .. especially as the book is pretty poor. I'm disappointed in them.

You have to wonder what the criteria is .. it hasn't had time to become a modern classic for one thing and I'm pretty sure, from what Marie and others have said, that it doesn't deserve the title. Steinbeck, Orwell, Woolf and Wyndham certainly but Morrissey seems a very odd choice. You can't really publish a book as a 'modern classic' on the off chance that it might become one surely This is encouraging news for my toast book though Yes .. the good folk at Penguin are just the sort of visionary people I'm looking for (and they're clearly not too worried about it being cr*p )

Oh dear! .. best left well alone then. Thanks for the warning Marie .. my Audible credits are precious .. I'm not wasting them on this. Some things are better remembered in your head

Very brave .. very calm and capable also .. or on most things anyway. Had to laugh about the Goldie Hawn script

Ooh has there been a BD sale? .. I missed that then .. perhaps it's just as well Look forward to seeing what you bought Deborah

Can you imagine how boring it is to be at the Oscars? .. especially if you're not nominated or anything ... it takes ages apparently. Must be particularly awful for the women because everyone's obsessed with what they're wearing and if they get it wrong (or someone who thinks they are the last word in fashion says they've got it wrong) they're destined to see themselves .. in all the papers and the internet .. with a big cross next to them .. forever associated with 'the worst Oscar frocks' Glad that 12 Years a Slave did well .. though I haven't seen it (but have seen some programmes about it.) I want to see it but then I don't .. not sure if I'm up to it I'm cross stitching a pic for my Mum's 80th birthday .. just a little picture because she hasn't much wallspace but all the same .. I'm having to rush it as it needs to be finished by Thursday Also got to make her a cake ... bit worried as not that good at cake decorating and particularly bad at writing with icing but need to write some sort of greeting on it so will just have to grin and bear it (or Mum will )

I think one of the main tips is don't roll the dough out .. just pat it into shape and then use your cutter. Lots of recipe books say to roll until it's half an inch or an inch or something but then they can come out quite flat if you do that. Yum .. I really want one now .. loaded down with jam and cream

Yes .. rather took me by surprise that did .. it still catches me out when I re-read it (how could you Nancy? ) You need to read Love in a Cold Climate now and then watch the drama which is a genius mix of the two (I'll put the DVD on your book pile .. I can put LIACC on there too if you like.) Getting on well with The Groucho Letters and The Book Thief (though .. oh bother .. Alan wants to listen to it now so I've gone back to the beginning again) and have also just started The Golem and the Djinni .. excellent so far

Love the Cumberbomb!

Aww .. your decorations look lovely frankie .. very artistically arranged

Yes .. very much

* meant to add also that Tracey's book has made me not only re-visit all the Everything But the Girl tracks but also all the Marine Girls tracks .. that is I was visiting them for the first time

Thanks Gaia Yes .. they're slippers or 'slipper boots' to be precise .. I've got a few pairs now but it's always wise to stock up with them in the winter because you can't get them in the summer .. even though it's usually still cold enough for them .. in this draughty old house it is anyway. The bun was far too delicious for it's own good .. or mine I've already gobbled up the Tracey Thorn .. I do love reading music biogs though not all of them are good .. this one was though and, like you say, instantly has you reminiscing. I was wondering about the Morrissey biog .. Tracey's love for The Smiths .. not to mention my own .. made me think of it but I think I remember you saying you were disappointed with it? I wonder if it would be better to listen to him reading it? I might consider that when my next Audible credit comes in. However, I've been reading the reviews and one criticism seems to be that he spends too much time being negative about various people he's worked with etc and that it gets repetitive and boring. Did you manage to plough on with it? Am re-reading The Book Thief at the moment having just seen the film adaptation and also The Groucho Letters which lovely Kylie sent me

I made two pies from our leftover Christmas dinner and we ate one in January .. we ate the other one today The whole Christmas experience in a pie .. without crackers, tinsel, carols, The Snowman, Slade or the bad temper Very wet and cold out today so perfect pie weather .. didn't want to take it into Spring

Today was going to be a good day calorie-wise but Saturday's are perfect for bun eating and book reading .. it'd almost be a sin not to I'm sure Monday will be better (but then .. Monday's are renowned for being depressing and practically forcing one into the arms of cake ) .. or Tuesday Bought this book with birthday money, bought a couple actually and have some on order also so will photograph them when they come but haven't been able to put this down since picking it up yesterday. I didn't think Caitlin Moran would steer me wrong and she hasn't

Thanks Gaia .. I'm sure I will Thanks Diane It's a bit of an obsession really .. I spend far too much time messing about with pics when I should be reading They are aren't they? I agree ... Claire is a brilliant shopper .. if I wasn't already married I'd marry her

There's probably not one of us who hasn't disliked a book universally loved .. everyone's view is different and everyone's view is valid .. let no-one tell you otherwise. You can't be made to like a book just because it's considered a classic. Nobody could ever convince me that Frankenstein is brilliant .. that is they couldn't convince me that I thought it was brilliant Btw you are definitely not too old to read The Moomins Karen .. nobody is. Glad you liked Finn Family Moomintroll .. hopefully I'll get around to reading them soon.

I'm reading that also .. enjoying it too

That's very good news Kylie .. especially as you've enjoyed your reading so much Like everyone else, I hope it continues on and on

Great film .. looking forward to the sequel Went to see The Book Thief yesterday and, on the whole, enjoyed it. Not perfect ... hardly any film is when you've loved the book so much but lots to like about it. Thought Sophie Nélisse was excellent as Liesel.

Went for a coffee with lovely Claire today Had a great time as always and Claire bought me some gorgeous books for my birthday all wrapped in spotty paper with spotty ribbon and a gorgeous card which had spots and chocolate and a heart on it (how she guessed I liked all those things I'll never know .. though she is a bit of a genius ) Availed myself of the little shelf in Costa's coffee shop to display my beautiful presents which were .. The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan The Franchise Affair by Jospehine Tey Many, many thanks Claire I can't wait to get started