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Tuesday, October 1, 2019

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

I've delayed writing about this book because I'm not sure what to say. Which is not a reflection on it -- The Goldfinch was an engaging, compelling read. It opens with an explosion at an art museum that kills 13-year-old Theo's mother; in the ensuing chaos, he witnesses the death of another patron, an elderly man who makes cryptic remarks about his work and life, gives Theo a signet ring, urges him to take a painting (the titular "Goldfinch") both had been captivated by, and tells him to find his business partner.

But this is not the start of some grand quest for Theo, involving centuries-old secrets and mysterious people; it's just the confusion and jumbled memories of a dying man. Instead the novel is about the power of art -- the way it captivates and transfigures people, the obsessions it can inspire, the greed and corruption is reveals. Theo's life is forever affected by the death of his mother, and the painting he effectively stole serves as the only thing connecting him to life. Tartt's depiction of his state of mind, the damage that can't ever be repaired, is thorough and heartbreaking. Her descriptions, too, of what art means to Theo, his mother, his mentor, even his criminally-minded best friend, are similarly affecting.

"A meditation on art and mortality" doesn't do it justice. I've been thinking about this novel for days after I finished it, a testament to Tartt's skills.

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