I read The Secret History earlier this year. I loved it because of the immersive setting and the intrigue of the plot, though I really couldn’t gel with the characters (which was fine by me, as I see the book as a little satirical). Overall, the book had a dark, eerie vibe that I got into.
I just started The Goldfinch, or, I’m 165 pages in, which is barely scratching the surface of this beast of book.
I know The Goldfinch is insanely polarizing, and I wasn’t sure I’d like it. I feared it might tarnish my positive view of Donna Tartt, but so far, I love it so much! I love the language, the characters, and the emotional depth of it. I
I just can’t get over how different the book is to TSH. The vibe feels so much more compassionate. Strange, but that’s the only word I can think to describe it. Granted, I’m not done with the book, so I know a lot can change.
But I was just thinking about Donna Tartt’s incredible range. With only three novels, she’s given such a variety of atmospheres. It’s really incredible.
Who are some other authors that, to you, exhibit great range or have a lot of variety in their work?
by gatheringground