One sentence summary
The Goldfinch: A Novel is Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning coming-of-age tale of loss and resilience.
Book genre
The Goldfinch: A Novel is a coming-of-age, realistic fiction novel.
Main topic of the book
The main topic of The Goldfinch: A Novel is Theo Decker’s journey of self-discovery in a tumultuous world.
Key ideas
Key ideas explored in The Goldfinch: A Novel include: family ties, grief, redemption, resilience and choices.
Main parts of the book and a short summary
The Goldfinch: A Novel is divided into two parts.
Part One focuses on the resulting effects of a tragedy that shapes Theo’s childhood. After losing his mother in a museum bombing, Theo is taken in by the wealthy family of an old friend -an arrangement that comes with more complications than it does comfort. At the same time, he tries to hold onto physical reminders of his past, including the titular painting of a small goldfinch.
Part Two follows Theo’s further journey as an adult, coming to terms with the choices he has made and the secrets he has kept. With the help of a new surrogate family, Theo begins to take a more active hand in creating his future, starting by traveling to Amsterdam to uncover the truth behind the iconic painting.
Key takeaways
The Goldfinch: A Novel is ultimately a story about overcoming loss and finding resilience in the face of adversity. The novel shows the ways in which the past can shape the future, and pries into the power of our memories, choices, and family bonds. It is ultimately a story about redemption, and the importance of not giving up in the face of tragedy.
Author’s background and qualifications
Donna Tartt is an American author and the recipient of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for The Goldfinch: A Novel. She is also the author of the bestselling The Secret History and The Little Friend.
Target audience
The Goldfinch: A Novel is suitable for readers aged 16 and older. It is an engaging and emotionally-charged story that would be particularly enjoyed by fans of realistic fiction and coming-of-age tales.
Publisher and first publication date
The Goldfinch: A Novel was first published in October of 2013 by Little, Brown and Company.