At ~800 pages, Goldfinch is a HUGE book, by most standards.
Despite the size, the story was so engrossing that one doesn't really worry about the length. The story is narrated in first person by the protagonist, starting when he was young boy of thirteen and ends when he is in his late twenties. Theo Decker is from a dysfunctional family, just suspended from his school and is highly worried about what his mom might do about that, when they go to a museum to see an exhibition. He loses his mother to a bomb explosion in the museum and is forced to flee with a precious 17th century painting. The story meanders along with Theo, moving from New York to Las Vegas, following his teenage years of drug abuse and alcoholism and close bonding with his friend Boris. His return to New York to become an art dealer, a chance happening due to Welty, the old man with whom he had spent the final few minutes in the Museum, and his near obsessive love towards Pippa, the grand daughter of Welty, all merge together to become a melancholic yet, beautiful story. The theme of grief, loss and the yearning for love runs through out the story.
Only in the last few pages, did it drag a bit - it seemed as though the author was indulgent.
Glad to say, I enjoyed the book thoroughly.
Despite the size, the story was so engrossing that one doesn't really worry about the length. The story is narrated in first person by the protagonist, starting when he was young boy of thirteen and ends when he is in his late twenties. Theo Decker is from a dysfunctional family, just suspended from his school and is highly worried about what his mom might do about that, when they go to a museum to see an exhibition. He loses his mother to a bomb explosion in the museum and is forced to flee with a precious 17th century painting. The story meanders along with Theo, moving from New York to Las Vegas, following his teenage years of drug abuse and alcoholism and close bonding with his friend Boris. His return to New York to become an art dealer, a chance happening due to Welty, the old man with whom he had spent the final few minutes in the Museum, and his near obsessive love towards Pippa, the grand daughter of Welty, all merge together to become a melancholic yet, beautiful story. The theme of grief, loss and the yearning for love runs through out the story.
Only in the last few pages, did it drag a bit - it seemed as though the author was indulgent.
Glad to say, I enjoyed the book thoroughly.
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