In this interview, book club author donna tartt shares her inspiration for the goldfinch and why its a fallacy that culture, inevitably, is civilizing. The goldfinch is one of my favorite fiction books of 20 and i liked it even more than the secret history, tartts debut novel which i loved and is on my book club recommendations list. Donna tartts latest novel clocks in at an unwieldy 784 pages. Dec 28, 2016 explore kathleenwws board from the book. A stolen masterwork cannot be bought or sold on the open market, and theo finds that the simple possession of it puts him in harms way. Published in 20, it was tartts first novel since the little friend in 2002. Being a member of a book club has practically turned in to an american pastime for women all over the country. Maybe adrian was a little more serious than the others, certainly more intelligent, but they all swore to stay friends for life. The goldfinch book club discussion questions arlenes book club.
Always a sucker for a good boyandhismom story, i probably was taken in at first by the cruelly beautiful passages in which yearold theo decker tells of the accident that killed his beloved mother and set his fate. Did you enjoy the goldfinch and would you recommend this book to your friends. I had chosen this book for our book club so had to lead the discussion. But who cares about the dinner, i just wanted to create a book themed tablescape. The protagonist, yearold theodore decker, survives a terrorist bombing at an art museum where his mother is killed. If you are an avid reader, the goldfinch is the kind of book that you only come across a few times that leaves a lasting impression on you. Genre, setting, topic, theme, and discussion questions, just to name a few. The goldfinch by donna tartt donna tartt is a writer who takes her time shes published just one novel per decade since her debut in. The story of a boy who loses a mother and gains a painting, donna tartts long. Escaping to another world or another time, page by page, is a luxury unlike any other. The goldfinch by donna tartt donna tartt is a writer who takes her time shes published just one novel per decade since her debut in 1992. Sep 23, 20 the goldfinch is a brilliant story with memorable characters and most of the book is incredibly well done and fun to read. It is hard for me to boil down what this book is truly about because it covers such a wide breadth of themes and i also dont want to ruin the suspense.
And we know how challenging it can be to find a book that is both entertaining as well as interesting and provocative enough to spark a good, engaging discussion while, perhaps, you nosh on cheese and sip wine. When i asked book readers about the goldfinch, i generally received two answers. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. Please put your thoughts on the goldfinch book club questions in the comments area below.
A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. The goldfinch donna tartt book club guide refinery29. The goldfinch pulitzer prize winner by donna tartt. Coincidentally, fabrituss painting the goldfinch came to new york city and opened at the frick on the same day tartts book was released. Last august, the 91yearold bookofthemonth club was revamped with a new editorial directorand a lineup of fun, fresh titles. The goldfinch, the goldfinch book club, donna tartt, book club ideas for the goldfinch donna tartt interview portraits portrait ideas the secret history we are the world profile photo well dressed lady. She took her time to create authentic and complex characters that bring the books primary theme of loss to life. The goldfinch book club discussion questions arlenes. What are the similarities between the chains on the boy and the chains on the bird. The goldfinch by donna tartt book club discussion questions. Whatever your book clubs reading preferences historical fiction, heartfelt family sagas, thoughtprovoking teen novels, and more this list has a book that is sure to please. The goldfinch part i book club ideas by donna tartt. Follow along with refinery29s book club as we read and discuss the goldfinch by donna tartt.
May 31, 2014 abm thanks for starting the book club. I know that sounds like i just lifted that from the book jacket, but honestly its true. Stephen king, new york times an astonishing achievement. The characters in this book are so vividly portrayed it is quite possible you will never forget them. Combining unforgettably vivid characters and thrilling suspense, it is a beautiful, addictive triumph a sweeping story of loss and obsession, of survival and selfinvention, of the deepest mysteries of love, identity and fate. Its hard to articulate just how muchand whythe goldfinch held such power for me as a reader. In this comprehensive book club companion, kathryn cope guides readers through donna tartts pulitzer prizewinning novel, the goldfinch. Its russian in scope and rife with dickensian characters, and deals with themes that are at once specifically american and totally universal. This empowering novel is a sweet read for a book club, and is made even sweeter with a platter of honey corn bread. Composed with the skills of a master, the goldfinch is a haunted odyssey through presentday america. The goldfinch is a haunted odyssey through presentday america and a drama of enthralling power.
Surviving on potatoes on another planet sounds tough, but making this otherworldly app for your book club is easy as can be. Our book club is devoting a second meeting to just the last chapter. Oct 30, 20 luckily for all parties involved, either group will be completely enraptured by donna tartts new book, the goldfinch. Published in 20, it was tartts first novel since the little friend in 2002 the novel is a comingofage tale told in the first person. The goldfinch part ii book club ideas by donna tartt do you remember how i teased you at the end of the goldfinch post part i with this huge empty drivers license. The author, donna tartt took 12 years to write this book. The current selections range from priestdaddy, by poetturnedmemoirist patricia lockwood, to lisa kos debut novel, the leavers, a book that bestselling author ann patchett calls required reading. Oct 22, 20 an amazon best book of the month, october 20. David copperfield famously says in the first line of dickenss book. The paradox of the goldfinch is that it is both priceless and worthless. The protagonist, yearold theodore decker, survives a terrorist bombing at an. Or you are welcome to bring up new discussion points or ideas. The goldfinch is a novel by the american author donna tartt.
It was wonderful to find such an insightful summary and group questions. Oct 17, 20 the story of a boy who loses a mother and gains a painting, donna tartts long. Check out this goldfinch painting that she just whipped up in a couple days before book club i mean, come on, thats almost identical to the original. Due to unusual circumstances id taken nearly two months to finish the goldfinch. See more ideas about donna tartt, goldfinch, donna. Nov 09, 20 in this interview, book club author donna tartt shares her inspiration for the goldfinch and why its a fallacy that culture, inevitably, is civilizing. Normally our book club meets once a month for hors doeuvres and discussion, but not dinner.
Whator what alldoes the painting represent in the novel. Sexhungry and book hungry, they would navigate the girlless sixth form together, trading in affectations, injokes, rumour and wit. Designed to make your reading experience more rewarding and enjoyable, this study guide encompasses a wealth of information. The novel is a comingofage tale told in the first person. Its hard to articulate just how muchand why the goldfinch held such power for me as a reader. Girls night in book club menu ideas 3 basic white varieties chardonnay one of the most popular wines throughout the world, it can range from medium to fullbodied depending on whether it is aged in oak. Donna tartts the goldfinch is a complex story about theodore theo decker, a young boy who suffers the loss of his mother in a terrorist attack at the metropolitan museum of art in new york city. Wait, is this for real, did someone from one of the largest publishing houses actually contact me and my book cl. Donna tartt has said that the goldfinch painting was the guiding spirit of the book.
Oct 14, 2014 our book club has been looking forward to reading the goldfinch for the past four months let me explain why. See more ideas about goldfinch, book club books and donna tartt. The goldfinch at a glance cliffsnotes study guides book. The goldfinch part i book club ideas by donna tartt our book club has been looking forward to reading the goldfinch for the past four months let me explain why. Aged chardonnay pairs well with rich, creamy foods and richer, fatty poultry and. Book summary theodore theo decker and his mother visit new york citys metropolitan museum of art so she can view the masterpiece the goldfinch. Oct 30, 20 normally our book club meets once a month for hors doeuvres and discussion, but not dinner. Our book club just finished reading and discussing our latest treasure, the goldfinch, by donna tartt. Did you find the characters in this book believable.
Softcover, little brown and company, 2014 you can purchase the goldfinch online at hugo bookstores. Its beautiful prose is densely layered and overflowing with richly developed characters. Anyone got any idea of any different sort of questions or even games that w. Designed to make your reading experience more rewarding and enjoyable, this study guide encompasses a. Were making it easy this year by rounding up the best book club books 2019 has to offer.
Hi my turn to host bookclub and i have chosen the goldfinch which i loved. A guide for book clubs study guides for book clubs. Disoriented during the attack, he takes the masterpiece the goldfinch. However, i was feeling quite ambitious, creative and brave so i decided to actually cook. How many ways is theo tied to the goldfinch, forced, always, to land in the same hopeless place. Frankly i am not sure i would have continued on had the goldfinch not been a donna tartt book, knowing shed spring a sudden surprise on me toward the end. A guide for book clubs study guides for book clubs cope, kathryn on.
The goldfinch is described by author stephen king as, a rarity that comes along perhaps half a dozen times per decade, a smartly written literary novel that connects with the heart as well as the mind. When choosing a book for a book club there are a lot of factors to consider. It won the 2014 pulitzer prize for fiction, among other honors. Luckily for all parties involved, either group will be completely enraptured by donna tartts new book, the goldfinch. See more ideas about goldfinch, book club menu and the goldfinch book. The goldfinch is a brilliant story with memorable characters and most of the book is incredibly well done and fun to read. A dramatic event happens about twothirds of the way in that upends the very foundations that the story is built on. Book club discussion questions for the goldfinch by donna tartt. Donna tartt has delivered an extraordinary work of fiction. So as i read i wanted to ferret out what made the novel so compelling to some, while others.
No matter the genre, getting together to discuss a book. Many comparisons have been made between this book and great expectations and other dickens books do you see. Our book club has been looking forward to reading the goldfinch for the past four months let me explain why. Dec 22, 20 the goldfinch is one of my favorite fiction books of 20 and i liked it even more than the secret history, tartts debut novel which i loved and is on my book club recommendations list.
While they are at the museum, a bomb explodes, killing theos mother and traumatizing him. Chatelaine book club interview with donna tartt, author of. Jun 05, 2014 the goldfinch is a haunted odyssey through presentday america and a drama of enthralling power. Sexhungry and bookhungry, they would navigate the girlless sixth form together, trading in affectations, injokes, rumour and wit. However, the existence of the painting holds tremendous personal value to him because of its connection to his mother, its connection.
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