Article archive / December 1, 2014
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 16. Source pages: 11.
At a hefty 785 pages, the hardcover version of The Goldfinch: A Novel might not have been the smartest purchase to stick in my carry-on bag, but that’s the only strike I have against the book, so far. Although I am only halfway into the book, I highly recommend it if for the beautiful language and writing style of Donna Tartt. The Goldfinch is a story of a young boy, Theo, who tragically loses his mother in a terrorist attack, bounces from home to home, but never quite finds the solace and sanctuary he desperately seeks. The book’s title refers to a painting Theo steals from the museum in the confusing and heartbreaking moments following the attack. Tartt weaves a captivating tale of a young man who suffers greatly as he navigates the art world that his beloved mother treasured, eventually resorting to a life of crime that is, at least, well- intentioned.
The Goldfinch: A Novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, but was not popular among noted critics from The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and several others, due to its unlikely plots, distracting turns, and mundane characters. I am not a trained critic, so I can only rely on the fact that once I had read twenty pages, I decided this book was so beautifully written that I wanted to read it every night before I fall asleep. I have maintained that pledge most nights and I have not been disappointed yet.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.