I remember when this book was first published. I had just started working at my public library and it was in demand. The hold lists were long and you couldn’t keep copies on the shelves. At that time, the book did not appeal to me - it was really long (just shy of 800 pages), it became a Pulitzer Prize winning novel (I don't read literary and coveted award-winning titles too often), and the story just didn’t interest me.

Fast forward over 4 years to now and I can say that The Goldfinch is probably the longest book I have ever read cover to cover. Now, If this wasn’t my book club’s pick for February, I may not have finished or even attempted. But what is most interesting is that I do believe there is timing to reading a book, whether we are conscious of that timing when we choose the book or not. Theo Decker is a 13-year old boy who loses his mother in a terrible accident. He calls his mother’s death the dividing mark - The Before and now, the After. I too have thought this way about losing my own mother. Even though I was older (aged 26), my life changed after the loss because of how pivotal and important my mom was in my life, just like in Theo’s. You find your new normal and I think what really started Theo’s personal journey is because of how challenging it was for him to do.

This book reminded me of the film Boyhood because I really felt like the reader was witnessing Theo grow up and come of age in such great detail and with a high level of attentiveness. The writing is terrific. Tartt is a talented author and her use of language is intelligent. The balance between description and conversational text is perfect. I would say The Goldfinch is probably one of the best written books I’ve ever read, but that didn’t make me love it. The book is long. There is a lot to the story and there is a lot that happens. Art, antiques, and art history is a large theme of the book and that is an area that I really have no personal interest in. I found it difficult to witness the downward spiral that Theo was having, especially when it involved drug and substance abuse, depression, and suicide. But there were parts of the story that made me smile - like his relationships with Pippa, Andy, and Boris who were probably the truest friends he ever had. And how despite his challenges, Theo grew up, worked hard, and did try to make something of his life even though he may have gone about it in a crooked, shady, and borderline illegal way. But I guess that’s how this book mimics life. We can’t always control what happens to us. We can only control how we handle it - sometimes that is with strength, grace, and beauty. Other times, it is with hurt, disaster, and harm.

If you are a patient reader who enjoys literary fiction and prize-winning novels, then this book maybe for you. If you also like to read books before seeing the movie, The Goldfinch is being adapted film and is scheduled for release in 2019. All I can say right now is that I am glad I finished it!