The blurb on the books regularly tell us how a novel is ‘superb’, heart rending’ and a ‘triumph’. Consequently, it is almost impossible to make a judgement based on this. Nevertheless, I can confirm that ‘The Goldfinch’ by Donna Tartt is all of these things and more.
What I particularly enjoyed was the fact that she intricately develops the characters and interweaves the plot and sustains this level of detail throughout the whole novel. I have read too many modern novels lately where they do this at the start, and then it tails off into a rather unsatisfactorily rushed ending.
The brilliance of ‘The Goldfinch’ also lies in the unpatronising way Tarttt interweaves her literary knowledge and her cultural references into the novel. True meaning evolves form her philosophical and literary references, they are not just a tag on, or a blunt introduction to a particular theme.
I also love her exposure of American society too. I cannot claim to have ever really truly understood their hierarchy. What is interesting is that there appears to be more of a social mix than in England – the social equivalent of Theo and Andy would never ever even met as children in England, never mind end up living together?
The systematic use of prescription drugs is a le interesting – I always think of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor and Michael Jackson – they led the way in addiction to prescription drugs. This was always reported as always a suggestion that they weren’t really addicts because they were taking drugs you can get on ‘prescription’. She blasts this perception away too. She paints the lives of the spcoal elite in America, the hob knobbing , the ‘friendships’ and the ‘show’. She exposes the stupidity and the nonsense that goes along with this in a discreet, but exposing fashion. Theo’s choices make the novels interesting. He is not influenced by social standing od climbing the greasy pole – he experiences the very top, and the very bottom of society, and as an orphan he clings onto who he instinctively likes, and who he thinks like him, and this is how we can appreciate his relationship with the undeniably brilliant Borys.
The concept that you can live your life, enjoy yourself and distort the realms of the social norms, and still be perceived as ‘good’ is an engaging angle on morality. Tartt allows us all to sigh with relief, in the age of the internet there is very little alternative other than ‘truth’ and there is very little room for reinventing your past when it comes to a public job. The philosophical ending linked to life, achievements and the perceptions of good and bad, and what constitutes a ‘good’ life are also interesting. The analogy of Oliver Twist and the links to Borys and the Artful Dodger, a character who makes the best of what appears to be a terrible life and is proud of his achievements, and is loyal to Fagin – the views of society are an irrelevance to him.
Additionally, the reference to ‘The Idiot’ by Dosteyofsky has and the suggestion that you can try your hardest to live a good life, but the results can still be ‘bad’ there are also clear links to the psychology and execution of crimes exposed in ‘Crime and Punishment’ too. The concept that you can commit murder and convince yourself it is a ‘good’ thing, as well as the idea that you can purge your crimes by being ‘good’ and trying to repay people is all explored.
Ultimately, Tartt’s relationship with art and literature is clearly a strong influence on her. The fact that she wants to write, but does not want to court publicity and become a public figure is something to be admired, once exposed, you can never go back! It is testament to her brilliance that she can write, take the time to write well and not be rushed into rash publications and not expose herself to the social merry-go round of publicity – and still sell her books worldwide, is to be truly admired. The musical equivalent is Kate Bush, they are both women that have the conviction to let their craft talk to the audiences, and to reach this level of success, especially as women, is something to be truly admired; alongside the brilliance of their work.