Book Review: The Goldfinch

by Donna Tartt

4 Stars

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is a beautifully written book that follows the life of Theo Decker, and the obstacles he must face. When he was a young boy, he was a victim of a bombing at a museum with his mother. His mother, unfortunately, does not make it out alive, but Theo miraculously does, bringing one of the surviving paintings (The Goldfinch) from the museum with him. The course of the book then follows Theo as he grows up and has to face many losses and challenges. He meets new people along the way that show him how to live and be free, although that only leads him down a path that is unsustainable for his future.   

I really enjoyed this book, as it was very emotional and felt real. There were some parts of the book that moved quite slowly though and took me longer to get through, as it is a fairly long book (771 pages), but overall, even though the book moved slowly in parts, the story developed very well. There are some serious themes that are depicted in this novel such as drug use and depression, the value of art and beauty, and relationships with others. This is the kind of book that you can get lost in due to the descriptive and realistic scenarios. The feeling of attachment you have to Theo is immense, and I found myself rooting for him from the very start to the end of the book. He also has one of the most devastating stories that I have read in a book, after facing tragedy after tragedy and persevering in his own unique way. Overall, this book is a fantastic read, and I definitely recommend it as long as you are willing to put in the time for this lengthy novel. 

Reviewed by Elaisa P. 

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