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  • The Goldfinch

  • By: Donna Tartt
  • Narrated by: David Pittu
  • Length: 32 hrs and 25 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,202 ratings)

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The Goldfinch

By: Donna Tartt
Narrated by: David Pittu
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Editorial reviews

Thirteen-year-old Theo Decker is taken in by a wealthy family following an accident, but misses his mother terribly. Action & Adventure he grows up, all he has to remind him of her is a small, very beautiful painting which, while of enormous sentimental value to him, is also sought by all kinds of unsavoury characters. Donna Tartt’s third novel, The Goldfinch, is part thriller, part coming-of-age novel, all mystery. The audiobook is narrated by the theatrical actor David Pittu, handpicked by the author, and is available from Audible.

Publisher's Summary

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize For Fiction 2014

Longlisted – Baileys Women’s Prize 2014

Audie Award Finalist, Literary Fiction, 2013

Aged 13, 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 one thing that 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.

©2013 Tay Ltd (P)2013 Hachette Audio

What listeners say about The Goldfinch

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Worth the effort!

Given the many reviews with comments about the excessive length of this book, I was hesitant to commit to listening through it all. But, the detail and attention paid to the various phases of the story are worth it as the book comes to completion, and the arc of the narrative reveals significance in parts of the story that might have otherwise been edited out to cut it down. If you want to listen but are scared of the length, I recommend investing the time. I'm glad I did.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Large book about a small painting

Donna Tartt can write. She writes well - very well. She creates characters that are three-dimensional. She writes lengthy dialogues and internal monologues for her characters.

The plot has twists and turns and so, though character-driven, has important circumstantial drivers too.

And this conflation of character, place and events serves to take us deep into a troubled life - indeed into several of them - in a way that is insightful.

The narrator David Pittu does a wonderful job of it all, with authentic recognisable voices for different characters without ever descending into caricature.

It's a long book. Very long, perhaps overly so, for by the last quarter I was pushing on, not in breathless anticipation but to get beyond the clutches of the book that had overwhelmed me and divorced me from other audio pursuits such as radio news.

For all that, an excellent read.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Seriously in need of editing

Would have been great with the great swathes of tedious verbose descriptive prose, that paralysed this novel with monotonous regularity, removed. Almost died of frustration by the end.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Richly smattered with cultural references, a delig

An entire life laid out, sins and all.
In a fascinating time and place, we watch a boy grow through tragedy and triumph.
Our hero and our villain.
What path does he take in life?

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

way too long for a not so complicated story

The story is dragged so long that to a point i just want it end. the narrator is exceptionally good. not sure how come this book a prize winner.

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2 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Serious editing required

Far too long. Story keeps getting side tracked constantly which makes you forget some of the more important details. Narration was fantastic though. Like listening to a radio drama. Pretty much the only thing that made me stick with the book. Perhaps my expectations were too high from all the hype about the novel. I kept thinking this is like pulling teeth ! Shame I really wanted to like it and saved for my holiday listen.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Brilliant study of insane grief with dark humour

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, because it's a masterpiece.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Goldfinch?

When Boris reappeared and told his ambivalent and appalling news.

What about David Pittu’s performance did you like?

That he got away with such a terrible range of accents. I disliked his American twang and it took me many chapters to relax with it, but he made up for it with Boris and with Hobie.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Something more precious than a masterpiece

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars

the goldfinch

Gave up listening after a few minutes. Couldn't stand the guys voice & tone that was reading.
like he was whispering telling a secret no vibrancy or upbeat in the telling at all.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderful achievement

Probably one of the best plots of any books I've read, and brilliantly narrated. The ending drags on a little which was a shame.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Sensational Story

What made the experience of listening to The Goldfinch the most enjoyable?

The characters and story were rich with detail with a satisfying ending.

What did you like best about this story?

The many layers of the story, the transformation of our main character, the final resolution.

Have you listened to any of David Pittu’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No.

Any additional comments?

Loved this! Recommend absolutely.

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1 person found this helpful

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