The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is a great novel. The basic premise is about young 13-year-old Theo Decker, who loses his mother and the journey he takes to discover some semblance of happiness, but this book is so much more. Thematically it weaves fate, coincidence, choice and grief into a message of light and hope found in a painting: The Goldfinch. Stolen and trapped in darkness, this painting in need of so much light is very similar to Theo's sadness and very dismal view of the world. Theo seems to always walk through certain half deserted streets, but he he's certain to make choices that appear to have insidious intent ending in murder both physically and psychological. This is Theo's love song written in Tartt's clear but poetic voice leaving the reader feeling every cut and bruise felt by Theo, but we also totally feel when Theo finds shimmers of happiness on his off days when he's not being totally self-destructive. You see it in his friendship with Borris, a terribly flawed friend who offers him compassion when he needs it most. You see it his friendship with Hobbie, a man of honor and respect and something Theo's own father seems very absent of. You see it in the father-son relationship when Theo absolutely hates his dad contrasting his absolute love of his mom. You see in his love of Pippa. You see it finally in Theo, a boy who journeyed to manhood though the dark hand of fate and the consequences of his impulsive actions. This is a book that will rip your soul out chaining it right next to the Goldfinch in the painting until the very end. This makes you question coincidence alongside the possibilities of choice. Theo's friend, Borris does an excellent job of explaining the short lived possibilities of life and how important it is to hold on to a single light from a chained up bird. I highly recommend this book. If you've never loved, you will after reading this book.
