The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Donna Tartt is a highly-regarded novelist who published her first novel in 1992 (The Secret History) followed in 2002 by The Little Friend.  Now, after waiting again a decade, we have The Goldfinch.

Many of the reviews I've read about The Goldfinch have used the adjective "Dickensian" to describe Tartt's latest effort.  Being not quite sure exactly what that meant, I searched for a definition and found that most literary critics use it to mean a story that has the following components: a sense of injustice,  a large cast of vividly drawn characters,  a plucky protagonist who has severe obstacles to overcome, and numerous and cleverly connected subplots.  It can also refer to Dickens' intelligence, powerful observations, graceful language and witty descriptions.

Is The Goldfinch, then, Dickensian?  Having just completed it and dried my tears, I would have to resoundingly proclaim YES!  It has all of the above components and is just a terrific tale.  Is it long? Yes. Is it overly long (as some critics have suggested)? No.  How can a story I was sad to see end be overly long?

The Goldfinch is the story, told mostly in flashback, of Theo Decker who, at the age of 13, loses his mother in an explosion at New York City's Frick Museum.  Theo walks out of the rubble with a small painting entitled "The Goldfinch" ( an actual painting on display in the Frick) and a ring given to him by a mysterious stranger who lay dying next to him in the destroyed gallery.

And thus the story of Theo's life begins; an incredible roller coaster ride of ups and downs, good and evil, wonderful luck and rotten breaks, happiness and grief, love and heartbreak.  Theo experiences it all and the reader is completely caught up in the ride.  Through it all, Theo also has retained the company of "The Goldfinch", which has become deeply intertwined with his memories of his mother.

There's definitely an aura of mystery as well; who was the man who gave Theo the ring and what does it mean?  And what is the destiny of the famous painting Theo walked out of the museum with? The longer he keeps it, the more difficult it is to return.  Theo's dilemma around the painting, as well as a colorful cavalcade of characters weaving in and out of his life, will have you cringing at some points in the story, cheering at others, and weeping at a few.  

I enjoyed The Goldfinch very much and certainly hope we don't have to wait ten more years for Ms. Tartt to produce another; but if we do, I think it will be worth the wait!

Lines to remember:

That life-whatever else it is-is short. That fate is cruel but maybe not random. That Nature (meaning Death) always wins out but that doesn't mean we have to bow and grovel to it.  That maybe even if we're not always so glad to be here, it's our task to immerse ourselves anyway: wade straight through it, right through the cesspool, while keeping eyes and hearts open. 

My rating: ****

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Adichie has written many well-received novels, of which I had read two prior to Americanah; Half of a Yellow Sun and Purple Hibiscus.  Adichie is Nigerian and her novels have been stories of Africa, specifically her homeland of Nigeria.

Purple Hibiscus, published in 2003, was this author's first novel.  It is centered on a wealthy family living in postcolonial Nigeria.  It tells the story of their disintegration within a setting of political chaos, economic instability and social upheaval, primarily through the eyes of a fifteen-year-old girl. While it is a powerful story and an enlightening one set in a fascinating country, it was really just a precursor to the powerful story published three years later. 

Half of a Yellow Sun, published in 2006, tell the absolutely gut-wrenching story of a Nigerian intellectual family caught in the throes of the Nigerian-Biafran War.  Adichie, who is of the Igbo people, feels that her novel offers the "emotional truth" of this war and the heart-breaking story of the civilians caught up it.  You may recall reading about and seeing pictures of the million starving Biafrans who attempted to create a country apart from Nigeria (ultimately a failed attempt).  If you've not read any of Adichie's novels, start with this one.  It has stayed with me for many years. 

Americanah is Adichie's recently published novel and it's very, very good.  The story moves back and forth between Nigeria and America.  It is primarily the story of teenage sweethearts growing up in Nigeria: Ifemelu and Obinze.  They share a plan to leave Nigeria and attend college in America; Ifemelu succeeds in doing so but through a disastrous chain of events Obinze gets no further than England and then eventually is deported back to Nigeria.  

Years pass; Ifemelu is a successful writer and blogger in America and Obinze has become a wealthy businessman in Nigeria.  Much of the novel centers on Ifemelu's blog which focuses on race in America and the differences/prejudices/lives of non-/American Blacks and American Blacks.  Her blog posts are incorporated into the novel and give great insight into her character and point of view.  Eventually Ifemelu returns to Nigeria and she and Obinze once again meet...

But Americanah is much, much more than love story.  It is a powerful commentary on being black in the 21st Century in America, England and Africa told through the words of fully developed characters that we come to care about.  Adichie leaves us with much to think about.

Lines to remember:  

Some black women would rather run naked in the street than come out in public with their natural hair.  Because, you see, it's not professional, sophisticated, whatever, it's just not damn normal.  When you DO have natural Negro hair, people think you "did" something to your hair. Actually, the folk with the Afros and dreads are the ones who haven't "done" anything to their hair.  You should be asking Beyonce what she's done. (We all love Bey but how about she shows us, just once, what her hair looks like when it grows from her scalp?)

My rating ***