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The Daily Insight

Why is The Goldfinch a bad book?

Author

Daniel Martin

Updated on February 20, 2026

In fact, the reason The Goldfinch doesn't work on the screen is that it doesn't really work on the page either. It's a hollow, thematically empty book filled with hollow, psychologically empty characters, and it suffocates under the sheer weight of its 771 pages. That's not to say this book fails entirely.

Just so, is Donna Tartt literary fiction?

But although her literary creations are richly expansive, Tartt herself remains largely mysterious; since the release of her brilliant debut novel, the beguiling, college-based 'whydunnit' The Secret History in 1992, she has kept a pointedly low-profile, only giving interviews and speaking at public events in the

Likewise, is The Goldfinch LGBT? Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch leaves a central character's sexuality unconfirmed. He may or may not be gay. This absence of storytelling around his sexuality is not at all like the old canonical fear of "going there". It's more a case of "we've been there and we're over it".

Similarly, you may ask, did Donna Tartt study classics?

In 1981, Tartt enrolled in the University of Mississippi where her writing caught the attention of Willie Morris while she was a freshman. At Bennington, Tartt studied classics with Claude Fredericks, and also met Bret Easton Ellis, Jonathan Lethem, and Jill Eisenstadt, graduating in 1986.

Does Theo kill himself in The Goldfinch?

In the book, the depressed Theo ultimately decides to turn himself in to Dutch police for his crimes when Boris shows up and stops him. In the movie, Theo goes through with a suicide attempt, and Boris bursts through the hotel door to rescue his overdosing friend.

Related Question Answers

Does Boris kiss Theo?

the kiss is clearly more than platonic, to say the least. When Theo gets in the cab, he acknowledges his feelings for Boris and confesses his love for him. This is the first and last time he does this (at least according to Theo's narrative, which as we know, isn't very reliable).

Is Goldfinch a true story?

Donna Tartt's Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Goldfinch, uses a true story about Dutch painter Carel Fabritius, who in the mid-1650's, died during an explosion that killed many in the town (and destroyed all but about 12 of his paintings).

Does Theo marry kitsy?

Kitsey is the third-youngest of the Barbour children, and she is very young when Theo comes to stay with her family. However, at the end of the novel, it is implied that Kitsey and Theo never get married.

Did Theo get married in the Goldfinch?

Eventually, Theo and Kitsey become engaged despite the fact that he is still very much in love with Pippa. He discovers that Kitsey is also in love with someone else, but they decide to remain together in an unpassionate relationship. Theo runs into Boris on the street.

Does Boris like Theo?

At first, he and Theo only purchased drugs from her, but as Boris became infatuated with her, they eventually began to date.

What should I read if I like the goldfinch?

Books to Read If You Loved The Goldfinch
  • The Secret History. by Donna Tartt.
  • The Little Friend. by Donna Tartt.
  • Warlight. by Michael Ondaatje.
  • Station Eleven. by Emily St.
  • Everything I Never Told You. by Celeste Ng.
  • Great Expectations. by Charles Dickens.
  • The Art of Hearing Heartbeats. by Jan-Philipp Sendker.
  • A Little Life.

Is Donna Tartt a good author?

Donna Tartt is a wonderful writer. Look at how she arrived in 1992: “The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation.” The Secret History more than lived up to the promise of that opening.

Is the goldfinch book appropriate for a 12 year old?

Goldfinch is inappropriate for children. It's so stupid that it might stunt your growth, or worse you might abandon reading all together.

Is there any romance in the secret history?

Despite the blood and mania that develops throughout “The Secret History,” Richard continues to view his surroundings through romantic, ideal eyes.

Why did they kill bunny in the secret history?

Bunny has been blackmailing the group since he found out about the death of the farmer. No longer able to meet Bunny's demands, and fearing that he will expose them, the group resolves to kill Bunny. The students confront Bunny while he is hiking and Henry pushes him into a ravine to his death.

Is the secret history worth reading?

The Secret History Is Still the Book I Recommend to Everyone

A lot of people have — the book has been translated into 24 languages and sold over 5 million copies since 1992 — but for those lucky souls who have not yet been initiated into the cult of Donna Tartt, there's never a bad time to get started.

Is the secret history gothic?

We begin by establishing The Secret History both as a campus novel and as a work of American Gothic. More than two decades after its publication, Tartt's novel remains a subject of fierce critical and popular discussion.

What year is the secret history set in?

1980s

What year is goldfinch set in?

1654

Is the secret history better than the goldfinch?

This was the case when I read The Goldfinch and soon after The Secret History. The most substantial difference between the two was that The Secret History was actually worth it. The characters felt so much more real, the issues so much more human, and the ending so much better wrapped up.

Is the Secret History sad?

Because among those other things, The Secret History is also, right at its core, a novel about the overwhelming nature of grief. It is grief as much as guilt that Richard feels when he attends Bunny's funeral. Grief that drives him to take Demerol and wander half-aware through a party he barely remembers.

Is the secret history a thriller?

It's at once mystery, a psychological thriller and an ode to the beauty of Classics and literature. “The Secret History” chronicles a descent into mania, exploring both guilt and justice and how they complicate friendships.

Is Hampden Vermont a real place?

Hampden Vermont is a fictional place but the booktrail introduces you to the overall sense of an American campus in Vermont.

Where did Donna Tartt go to college?

Bennington College University of Mississippi

Is there a real painting called The Goldfinch?

The Goldfinch is actually a real painting.

But the story of the actual painting of The Goldfinch is almost as dramatic as the movie, and both share an explosion in common. The original work is a small oil painting by Dutch artist Carel Fabritius of a chained European goldfinch on top of its feeder.

Does Netflix have Goldfinch?

Sorry, The Goldfinch is not available on American Netflix, but you can unlock it right now in the USA and start watching! With a few simple steps you can change your Netflix region to a country like Canada and start watching Canadian Netflix, which includes The Goldfinch.

Is the goldfinch sad?

'The Goldfinch' is stoic and sad, occasionally brilliant and at times confusing. Theo's search for redemption feels rushed and overly complicated. Although lost a bit in translation, it is worth a watch.