skip to main content

The Kitchen Table

Resting My Eyes after "The Goldfinch"

9 years ago

Whew! That was some tale! I haven't read her other books, but the author (Donna Tartt) must know a wide variety of people to create the characters to populate this story.

I'm late getting to it. I think it's finally dropped off the best seller list for fiction after months and months. Anyone else take this journey?

Comments (12)

chessey24
9 years ago
It's waiting for me at the library - there is still a list of people waiting to get a copy from the library. I was something like 165 when I got on the wait list.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
9 years ago
It's on my Kindle, waiting for me to open it. I get sidetracked so easily; the PBS Roosevelt series triggered an interest in re-reading a couple of my biographies of that family, for example.

But "The Goldfinch" is on my Kingle bookshelf!
Related Discussions
a prothonotary warbler with the goldfinches!! (?!)
Q
Comments (7)
I know exactly what you mean, Cathy. THis reminds me of a bittersweet moment I had several years ago. We had a redtailed hawk nesting across from the house. It was fascinating getting to watch the youngsters grow into young adults. Once I was poking around at the base of the tree and came across a freshly killed shorebird. It had puncture wounds but was not even partially eaten. I am assuming the adults brought it to the nest, but why it was never consumed will remain a mystery. I had absolutely no clue what it was, but after doing a bit of some reading I was guessing it to be a golden plover. I did the ziploc freezer bag thing and took it to a local Audubon member locally and he pretty well agreed on the id. These birds only come through on migration...you'd normally never see them. SO here was one lying dead under a hawk nest in a hickory tree in the middle of the woods. Maybe it was at the reclaimed mine lakes noth or west of us and got picked off by the redtail. Take advantage of the opportunities as they present themselves I guess.
...See More
Juncos vs goldfinches
Q
Comments (7)
I'm getting ready to put up 2 more seed feeders, one hanging from the underside of the deck as the nyjer feeder does, and one window mounted. Its a walkout basement situation. I'll be using black oil sunflower seeds in the hanging feeder (its the Brome Squirrel Buster Standard) and I haven't decided, either sunflower chips/hearts or more black oil sunflower seeds in the window-mounted feeder. Will the Juncos be drawn more to those feeders than to the nyjer? I could mount the window feeder lower on the window to be nearer ground level if it might attract them away from the nyjer feeder. There are at least a couple of them that want to feed at the feeder now. I don't know if they are always the SAME couple but never more than 2 on the tube. I wouldn't mind except they insist on driving the goldfinches away. The VAST majority of them are happy on the ground. There does seem to be plenty of seed for them there, I can see it through the window even in the grass. The juncos like to fly up to my window and perch on the edge of it and peer in. I don't know why but they do. So flying INTO the window shouldn't be an issue. I've actually never seen a bird fly into a window, except once at someone else's house where they had a giant picture window that was in direct line with a patio door. I'm pretty sure the bird thought it was flying towards the trees it could see in the backyard through both windows. Otherwise I've never had a bird fly into a window. It kind of freaked me out the first time I heard one land - I thought one had flown into the window after all, but there was nothing there by the time I looked. When I heard the scritching sound the next time, I looked around and there was a junco just perched on the lip of the window looking at me out of the side of his head. Every now and then one will pop up and perch there for a few seconds before flying off. I have NO idea why. They're perched on the lip of the upper half of the window, not on the sill. It's kind of strange, LOL!
...See More
Exhausted after eye exam??
Q
Comments (15)
Well, I'm glad ALL of you are getting eye exams. Yup, I get them and they are all sorts of exams, the eye chart, with and without glasses/contacts. The field of vision, and clicking the button all over the place, the numbing drops, that AWFUL bright light looking into the corners and following commands "look up and to the right, straight up, down and to the left", etc, etc. It is tiring, to be sure. BUT, let me tell you, as one gal who watched her late great-grandmother, late grandmother, go slowly blind in their elderly years from glaucoma, and whose own mother now takes a plethora of eyedrops for the same condition, you bet I was at the opthamologist every year!!!!! Knowing I'd be next, if history repeats itself!!!! So, age 50 was the diagnosis time for me. My pressures were fine (Intra-ocular pressure is the measurement for glaucoma) until I hit the big 50, and when they ticked over the upper range of normal, onto a daily drop I went!!! I did my due diligence to catch it early, I faithfully put in one drop at bedtime, and I hope to live long, well, and sighted! I'm pleased to hear so many of you get tested, since you can't feel glaucoma, until you lose your peripheral vision, and will wreck all 4 corners of your car first, and will trip over curbs you can't see. Cheerful1, don't forget to back and repeat the testing!!! Keep those peepers peeping!!!! Look at it this way...enjoy the POWER naps!!!!!
...See More
Goldfinch Stables pool build...let the digging begin!!
Q
Comments (25)
Have a couple of questions about using well water to fill a pool. Our outside spickets run on well water...I have never truly tested it for long runs, but generally the first 2-3 minutes I run the pump I get rust that generally clears up 99% after it's running...my best guess is that the sleeve they used to run the pump lines down 60' to my source of water has rusted, they must have used steel not the kind that won't rust.... I have a lot of water in our well b/c it taps into an underground river...I did buy a house filtration system that I can hook up between two hoses and check the filters for rust, but what considerations should I know before I fill it up? Pebble sheen is supposed to go in on Thursday..any help would be appreciated! We do have the option of running the city water into it, but it means unhooking the washing machine (which I'll desperately need the next 3 days) and running hoses around...even considered calling my local volunteer fire dept..any ideas?? Thanks! Tara
...See More
sushipup1
9 years ago
I'm waiting for it, too. You would probably love "The Secret History", one of the few books I've read twice. The third book didn't get the same reviews as the other two.

This post was edited by sushipup on Sat, Sep 20, 14 at 13:45
stacey_mb
9 years ago
The goldfinch was one of many books that I started but didn't continue reading. It just didn't "click" with me, but it's obviously popular with many, having won the Pulitzer Prize. A book that I recently purchased - The luminaries - won the Man Booker Prize but is not highly thought of by general readers. I'm considering whether I should give it a try even though I might be wasting valuable reading time, or just pretend it's not sitting on my shelf!
leel
9 years ago
I read it and couldn't figure out why it had won the prize. It was a lot of noise signifying nothing.
alisande
9 years ago
Did you like it, Chisue? I can't tell from your post.

(I haven't read it.)
Georgysmom
9 years ago
I was going to order it but a friend of mine (whose opinion I respect) said she didn't like it so I passed. I'm still wondering why Gone Girl continues to be on the best seller list. LOL
maxmom96
9 years ago
I read The Little Friend (her first) some years ago and didn't care for it. Then when The Goldfinch came out it got such raves I read it and liked it, and a friend told me I'd like Secret History, which was supposed to be quite good. Got it and read it. Goldfinch and History both have great plots as far as I'm concerned and I did like both, but somehow I couldn't equate the drug-laced scenes to the plot. Maybe I'm not as astute a reader as I think I am.
pam_25f
9 years ago
I have started Goldfinch 3 times and it just never encouraged me to stay with it. I thought there was something wrong with me!
chisue
Original Author
9 years ago
It's 'wordy' for sure, and the preface had me wondering how much I could care for the wasted-sounding protagonist. I'm glad I persisted, but think the author probably lost some readers with exhaustive description.

There's tragedy, sorrow, heartbreak, and disturbed families. There's little happiness. I didn't know people could survive the drug and alcohol abuse described, although several of the major offenders had the sweetest souls. I always enjoy not being able to predict twists of plot, and there are 'revelations' throughout. I think the author wants to steep the reader in this murky tea before proposing a rational 'why'.

New York society is illustrated as quite unchanged since "Catcher in the Rye". The protagonist is attending a private school in the city and is 13 when the story begins -- as flashback after a gloomy preface.

The story IS the painting.
alisande
9 years ago
Thank you for the review, Chisue. It doesn't sound like something I would enjoy.

Reding the comments above about rejecting popular books, I'm thinking of Life of Pi. Many of my friends loved it, but I gave up on it very quickly.
Shelgal
9 years ago
I agree with Stacey, Leel and Pam. I read it several months ago, and found the plot was filled with many unlikely situations, unbelievable characters, etc. Too many convenient coo incidents, too. Very contrived, and way too long.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: How to Care for American Goldfinches

By Habitat Network

The American goldfinch is a bright-in-the-summer visitor and one of the only vegetarian songbirds. Here's how to give them a healthy habitat

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Green-Only Gardens Draw the Eye and Soothe the Spirit

Use plant and foliage variety to create a monochromatic landscape as visually pleasing as it is calming

BEDROOMS Rest Easy: Myth Busting for Bedding and Mattresses

By Tiffany Carboni

We put to bed some of the misconceptions that may be keeping you from a good night's sleep

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: Contrasts Catch the Eye in a Beachy Family Room

By Becky Harris

Rough jute and soft shag, eye-popping turquoise amid neutrals ... this room’s pairings make each element stand out

MOST POPULAR 102 Eye-Popping Powder Rooms

By Bryan Anthony

Flip through our collection of beautiful powder rooms on Houzz and fill your eyes with color and style

KITCHEN DESIGN Eye-Catching Colors for Your Kitchen Floor

By Jennifer Ott Design

Revitalize a tired wooden floor with a paint or stain in an unexpected color

LIVING ROOMS Design Dose: 3 Living Rooms That Caught Our Eye This Week

By Mitchell Parker

We wanted to learn more about these living rooms — bright, bold and rustic — uploaded in the past 7 days

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Butterfly Gardening: Delight the Eyes With Living Sculptures

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Surprise and thrill with a garden that attracts magical winged creatures, bringing color, movement and life

LAUNDRY ROOMS New This Week: 3 Eye-Catching Laundry Rooms

By Mitchell Parker

Just because you have high-tech appliances doesn’t mean your laundry room has to look like something from outer space

STORAGE Watch an Innovative Bookcase Convert Before Your Eyes

By Mitchell Parker

Judge the problem-solving ability of these rotating shelves for yourself, but we think it’s an open-and-shut case

Sponsored

More Discussions

Oh no! Another one!

521

Does anything look different to you?

23

Do you recognize this wildflower?

19

I adopted a puppy, then they wanted it back! It's cute! I'm Venting..

59

4/17 Survivor and Amazing Race

9