Donna Tartt has written a novel, a tome, that is as much about love, life and beauty as it is about nihilism, catastrophe and death.Written in the first person, 12 year-old Theo Decker's life is divided into before and after his mother's death.  Together, he and his mother are on their way to his school for a conference to discuss some unknown behavioral issues of Theo's.  On the way, due to bad weather, they stop at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  While there, some terrorists bomb the museum and his mother is killed.  As Theo searches for his mother, he meets a dying man named Welty who gives him an antique ring that he asks him to deliver to someone named Hobart.  He also meets a girl named Pippa to whom he forms a lifelong obsessive attachment and love.  When Theo finds out that his mother has died, he is devastated.  His father has walked out on them over a year ago and is a mean drunk and a gambler.Most importantly, when Theo leaves the museum, he walks out with a small masterpiece under his arm.  It is entitled The Goldfinch and the artist is Fabritius.  Painted in the latter 1600's it is one of only a few of Fabritius's work that has survived.  For Theo, it represents something stable, a way of holding on to something that was meaningful to his mother, and thus a part of her.The novel takes us though Theo's life into his twenties.  We first go with him to the Barbour family that takes him in after his mother's death.  Their son Andy has been a friend of Theo's for a few years.  Both are outcasts in their middle school and are prone to being the brunt of bullies.  The Barbours are very rich and enjoy Theo but are not demonstrative.  Mr. Barbour has recently been released from a psychiatric hospital and his behavior is somewhat odd.  The Barbour children, other than Andy, resent Theo's presence.  Despite this, however, Theo likes it there and would like to remain with them.  His only remaining relatives are his father, whereabouts unknown, and his paternal grandparents, unloving and not wanting to take Theo in.Out of the blue, Theo's father appears with his girlfriend Xandra and they take Theo with them to Las Vegas.  There, Theo meets Boris who becomes a lifelong friend.  Together, they get into hardcore drugs, illegal activities and drinking.  Theo's father is living well due to a good gambling streak but things start to fall apart and it is not long before Theo is back in New York City where he finds shelter with Hobart (Hobie) in his antique store.  Theo's life is a mess.  He is heavily into drugs and constantly blames himself for his mother's death.All the while, Theo holds on to the Goldfinch like a talisman.  He keeps it wrapped up most of the time but unwraps it now and then to look at it and revel in its beauty and personal meaning.  He knows he should return it but he keeps putting that off.The novel is longer than it needs to be.  Ms. Tartt, who can write beautifully, often goes into tangents and philosophical discussions that are unnecessary.  Characters come and go who are like red herrings.  Despite this, the book has its brilliant aspects.  The characterization of Theo is superb and his despair and longing is brought out in depth.  The symptoms of his post-traumatic stress disorder are clinically accurate.  I enjoyed this book immensely but I wish that the editing had been tighter. 

Question: How is the writing style of story on this book?
Answer: Written in the first person