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Well, well, well. Looks like I have a new
favorite book!
For many years The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger held the top spot,
but by complete and utter chance (or perhaps fate), a few months ago I picked
up The Goldfinch by the INCREDIBLE
Donna Tartt. I knew it was really highly rated and proclaimed on Good Reads as
I am always reading reviews on that website. When I couldn’t find the book I
was actually looking for that day, I picked up The Goldfinch because it seemed just like my kind of perfect book,
and boy was it!
Just a bit of a brief overview for those of
you who have not yet read this phenomenal novel; it is centered on Theo Decker.
His mother plays a foundational, nurturing and loving role in his life, whereas
his father is very much so absent. After a catastrophe, which he miraculously
survives, his world begins to fall apart. Alone and without a home in New York,
he clings to a painting, which is a constant, living reminder of his mother.
Although, it is also what connects him to the dark, merciless criminal world.
Being part of the portion of the world’s
population who are complete and utter bookworms, this book had a very unprecedented
impression on me. I try to read a book every week to every fortnight, so as you
may assume, most of the novels I read are for pleasure or to help pass time.
Often, there are parts of these novels that I read totally absent minded, just
recycling word after word, having little to no connection with the book
itself. It is not often that I come
across a book that touches me in both a dazzling and emotional way.
If you are on the prowl for a novel that is
saturated in layers of depth, thrill, uncertainty and intrigue, this is the
perfect novel for you! It is one of those novels that will reignite your love
for reading and your hope that there are still so many groundbreaking and jaw
dropping writers in the world. I think what
I appreciate most about this book is that you are not left asking any questions
(as you would hope because its over 800 pages long!). I suppose what I am trying to say is that I
really appreciate a writer who takes the time to cover all grounds; there are
no short cuts whatsoever. Tartt describes
every scene perfectly. Whether it is the busy streets of New York, the
unforgiving Las Vegas, corrupted Russian friends, overbearing drug addictions
or the girl who becomes one of the rare constants in Theo’s life.
The characters seem just so real because of
how deeply she has managed to portray them. In particular, Boris, who is from
Russia and has recently moved to America. She portrays him as someone who cannot
speak strong English and the way she writes his character is amazing! You can
almost hear his broken English through what the character is saying; the words
not used in the appropriate place and the mix of Russian with English is just
brilliant and very humorous.
I really and truly recommend everyone to
read this book. It is incredibly special.
Tartt has been able to delicately circle and link each character in a
unique and surprising way. There is also
an astonishing bond between the past of each of the characters and their
futures. You find that the main characters are brought together at the
unluckiest of times, but I suppose it is best for an added level of mystery and
anticipation for the reader. It is the unusual mix of themes of trauma, loss, longing,
crime and hilarity that makes this book so entertaining and addictive. She has managed to make the criminal
underworld of art to be one of the most thrilling and gripping crime novels I
have ever read.
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