I asked for The Goldfinch: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)
Books like this are why I love to read. (Though to be fair – a book like this comes along for me – if I’m lucky – maybe/hopefully once a year.) There is so much to love about this novel, but when I break down why I love how Donna Tartt told this story it comes down to People, Places, & Things.
I already mentioned Theo, who tells this story, but Boris is another character I will never forget.
“We looked at each other. And it occurred to me that despite his faults, which were numerous and spectacular, the reason I’d liked Boris and felt happy around him from almost the moment I’d met him was that he was never afraid. You didn’t meet many people who moved freely through the world with such a vigorous contempt for it and at the same time such oddball and unthwartable faith in what, in childhood, he had liked to call “the Planet of Earth.'”
The intemperance of the two as unsupervised teenagers was so horrific but believable and beautiful at the same time because at least they had each other.
Which brings me to…
Place:
I loved the way I could actually feel the inside of an antique shop and the streets in New York, the desolation of the desert near Las Vegas, and the canals of Amsterdam.
Things:
Based around a painting, this book has several passages that describe how a particular thing (a painting) captivates people.
The final Section V begins with this quote:
“We have art in order not to die from the trash.” – Nietzsche
And this is how I feel about literature like The Goldfinch.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, you will not pay any extra but I may make a small commission. Thank you for supporting Leslie’s Bookcase.
Ah, this brought back memories of this book! I absolutely loved it, along with Tartt’s The Secret History. I have The Little Friend on my shelf to read this year and I’m hoping it lives up to her others, though I’ve heard less about it. I’ve seen an author or two wonder why it takes Tartt so long to write her books, but they are so worth it once they’re done!
I will have to read her others. Adding The Little Friend to my list now, thanks. I read the Goldfinch took 10 years to write- so worth it!!