These recommendations also made me think of The Art of Fielding, which was a great read as well. Also loved Life After Life and The Luminaries.

I personally think that if you haven't read them Freedom and The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen are both excellent books, very well written. They do not span time as much but the character development is very similar to The Goldfinch in that you really feel like you know the people in the book when you are done, wish that you could meet them, miss them when the book is done.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone read her first book, The Secret History?

Yes. It's fantastic. I was blown away when I read it the first time on a whim. Can't wait to pick it up again 20+ years later.

I would say this book, was solidly good, and enjoyable, but not fantastic.

I really enjoyed Ten Thousand Lovers by Edeet Ravel. Also Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood. Off to download Winter's Tale by Helprin! And Middlesex is next.

Anonymous wrote:Just finished "The Signature of all Things" by Elizabeth Gilbert and was awestruck.

I read The Signature of All Things and then the Goldfinch soon after. I loved them both. I read The Interestings (not interesting enough for me!) over the summer. I think 2014 will be the year of reading much slimmer books for me!

Just finished "The Signature of all Things" by Elizabeth Gilbert and was awestruck.

Merry Christmas all -- i've been reading "A Secret History" all day and only put it down to eat and then picked it back up again after the guests left ... a page-turner for sure!

What about The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

It reminds me of John Irving's works.