Whatever you are
doing, stop and read this book. I was going to leave this review as that one
line but I’d better elaborate. Especially for those of you who have not heard
of Donna Tart. The reason I picked up one of her three novels was because she
is associated with Bret Easton Ellis. Her first novel The Secret History has become a cult classic. Unforgivably I have
not read it! The Goldfinch is
everything and the only thing people should be reading right now. Like right
this second. It focuses on Theo Decker’s life after an event (not to give away
any spoilers) kills his mother. (you find this out on the back cover) The plot
is so rich and alive that at points I didn’t even realise I was still in my
sitting room. I was running in Vegas with him and the unforgettable Boris.
I was watching as Theo returned back to his flat in New York, thirteen years
old and clutching the painting. I was in a horrible mood at work because I
couldn’t get back (for four hours) to read this book. It has helped that the
weather here has been unbearable. One “too hot to sleep” night meant I ploughed
through half of this novel. But even if the temperature had been just right,
that still would have happened. It is a testament to Tartt’s writing that you
are immediately pulled into the scene. Nothing could be going on, but you are
there. I’ve read her second novel, My
Little Friend and although I didn’t enjoy that as much, I still remember
the Mississippi heat radiating off the page. I am planning on tracking down The Secret History sooner rather than
later. There is a reason that Tartt’s third novel won the Pulitzer Prize this
year. I hope she is writing her fourth novel as I’m writing this review.
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