Wednesday, February 25, 2015

The Goldfinch



It 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 antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love-and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.

The Goldfinch is a novel of shocking narrative energy and power. It combines unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and breathtaking suspense, while plumbing with a philosopher's calm the deepest mysteries of love, identity, and art. It is a beautiful, stay-up-all-night and tell-all-your-friends triumph, an old-fashioned story of loss and obsession, survival and self-invention, and the ruthless machinations of fate.


My thoughts:
Theo was a boy when he lost his mom, an event that would change him forever. Moved by grief and pain, tumbling from one home to the next, finding friendship in the hard, tough teenager Borys.....his life was constantly on edge.

As I read the novel, I found myself completely wrapped up in Theo's life and would wake each morning wondering how he would spend his day. I laughed and cried with him and hoped his mother's love would keep him alive and well.

I believe this could have been "that" great novel but alas, it was way too wordy (I gave it 3 stars). I am quite happy I read it and would urge you to do the same.

2 comments:

  1. I've heard mixed things about The Goldfinch. My coworkers are split with whether or not they enjoyed it. I've got The Secret History by her to read though. I heard better things about that one.

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  2. I've heard a lot of good things about this one! I'm sorry it was wordy, but I'm glad it's a novel you were able to get lost in. I always love it when that happens :)

    - Eli @ The Silver Words
    #commenting365

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