The Goldfinch is one of my favorite reads which I read last summer. It kept me completely invested the whole time. Author Donna Tart is able to create a world that’s tragic, thrilling, intimate, and heartfelt all at the same time. That’s why I loved the book so much because she’s able to tackle so much material throughout the length of the novel.
I would say it takes a little bit to fully get into the book, but once you’re in it, you’re fully invested. There is a sense of connection to the main character Theodore who after his mom is killed in a bombing in New York is tossed around from family to family, all while having to deal with his inner demons. This all is topped with the fact that he took a precious painting from the museum that reminds him of his mother.
The book follows his life from a young age all through adulthood. I became so attached to each and every character in this book and found myself crying, laughing, and on the edge of my seat for most of the book. It was an experience that I’ve never had reading before.
Reading this book I found it was such an intimate experience. These characters are crafted in such a way that makes you feel as though you know them. After each page, and chapter I grew closer and closer to each one of them.
There’s even some characters that are only in the book for a short amount of time or sporadically, but you never forget about them or lose connection with them. I found myself getting lost in the pages of this book, and couldn’t stop think about the story about this young man’s life.
I feel as though this is a book that everyone should read, because it tackles so many topics that almost anyone can relate to. There’s really no other way to describe this book other than completely moving. I’m usually not able to get into the super dramatic books but this one is written with such detail that you can feel it in every word, page, and chapter.
Theodore’s story is extremely hyper realistic and brought to life through Donna Tarts words. There was never a moment when I thought what I was reading wasn’t real or couldn’t happen at some point. That’s what’s so magical about this book is that even though it’s a work of fiction, you can feel as though it’s real.
The Goldfinch is a touching piece of work, and while at times can be dry and slow it never fails to keep you interested and caring about the characters. It’s a great read about self reflection and how we all must understand who we are first to then understand the world around us.
I give the Goldfinch an A
