AK Blakemore Criticizes Donna Tartt's 'The Goldfinch'

Poet and author AK Blakemore has publicly criticized Donna Tartt's 2013 novel, "The Goldfinch," describing it as "extremely silly and bad." Blakemore, whose own second novel, "The Glutton," was released recently, shared this opinion in an interview discussing her reading history and influences. The interview, published on October 9, 2026, delves into Blakemore's earliest reading memories and her favorite books from childhood, highlighting how these early literary experiences have shaped her own writing.

Blakemore's earliest reading memory is of Lynley Dodd's "Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy." She recalls the distinct descriptions of the dogs in the book, including Hercules Morse, a great dane "as big as a horse"; Bottomley Potts, a dalmatian "covered in spots"; and Schnitzel Von Krumm, a dachshund "with a very low tum." Blakemore states she could still recite most of the book from memory, indicating its significant impact on her during her formative years.

Moving into her childhood favorites, Blakemore expressed an obsession with the intricate illustrations of Korky Paul, who is widely recognized for his work on the "Winnie the Witch" series. However, Blakemore's particular favorite illustrated by Paul was "The Rascally Cake" by Jeanne Willis. In this book, a character named Rufus Skumskins O'Parsley, described as a "rotund, green-haired man," bakes a cake using unpleasant ingredients such as rotten eggs, spider legs, and garden snails. The narrative takes a turn when the cake comes to life and attempts to consume its creator. Blakemore noted that elements of Skumskins likely influenced the protagonist of her own novel, "The Glutton."

In contrast to her childhood favorites and influences, Blakemore's assessment of "The Goldfinch" stands out as a strong negative critique. "The Goldfinch," published by Little, Brown and Company, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2014 and was adapted into a film by Warner Bros. in 2019. Despite its critical acclaim and commercial success, Blakemore's candid remark positions her as a dissenting voice among its many admirers. The interview also touches upon Blakemore's evolving literary tastes, mentioning a loss of faith in Ernest Hemingway's work and an appreciation for F. Scott Fitzgerald's novels, which she considers perfect.