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The Goldfinch
771 pages, 2015
fiction
1382 booksIt begins with a boy. Theo Decker, a thirteen-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend.
Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his unbearable longing for his mother, he clings to one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art.
As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antique store where he works. He is alienated and in love and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.
The Goldfinch combines vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and suspense, while plumbing with philosophers calms the deepest mysteries of love, identity, and art. It is an old-fashioned story of loss and obsession, survival and self-invention, and the ruthless machinations of fate.
In The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt explores the transformative power of art. The protagonist, Theo, finds solace in a painting after a tragic incident. This shows how art can provide comfort and be a source of strength during tough times. It's worth checking out how Tartt uses art as a central theme in the book.
Tartt digs deep into the psychological impact of trauma on a person's life. Theo's life is marked by a series of traumatic events that shape his personality and decisions. The book gives a profound insight into how trauma can affect a person's mental health and life choices.
The Goldfinch explores the complexity of human relationships. From Theo's bond with his mother to his friendship with Boris, Tartt paints a vivid picture of how relationships can shape a person's life. It's interesting to see how these relationships influence Theo's journey.
One of the key takeaways from The Goldfinch is the consequences of our choices. Tartt shows how Theo's decisions, both good and bad, have long-lasting effects on his life. This book encourages readers to think about the impact of their own choices.
The Goldfinch is also a story about the struggle of identity. Theo's life is a constant battle between who he is and who he wants to be. Tartt beautifully captures this struggle, making readers reflect on their own identity and self-perception.
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The Goldfinch is a rarity that comes along perhaps half a dozen times per decade, a smartly written literary novel that connects with the heart as well as the mind.
Stephen King - Horror Fiction AuthorThe Goldfinch is a triumph with a brave theme running through it: art may addict, but art also saves us from 'the ungainly sadness of creatures pushing and struggling to live.'
John Green - Young Adult FictionThe Goldfinch is a novel that pulls together all the author's remarkable storytelling talents into a rapturous, symphonic whole and reminds the reader of the immersive, stay-up-all-night pleasures of reading.
Michiko Kakutani - Literary Critic
