The main character is
Theo Decker, a 13 year old boy who loses his mother and survives a devastating incident in NY. He is taken in by some wealthy friends
before eventually being taken away and looked after by his feckless father.
The terrible incident
has left some legacies, he helps another injured person who urges him
to take an action that dominates the rest of his life as he
alternates between the criminal underworld and the hallowed world of
antique dealing.
At the centre of this
story is a painting that has a huge impact on his entire life.
The story begins in
occupied France in 1916, Sophie Lefevre runs the local inn while her
painter husband Edouard fights at the front. The occupying forces
descend on the inn for their evening meals and the Kommandant is
taken with a portrait of Sophie, painted by her husband.
The book suddenly leaps
forwards in time to now and the new owner, Liv Halston has to fight
to retain ownership of the painting that is now called “The Girl
You Left Behind”, a treasured gift from her late husband, as it
becomes the subject of a legal fight to return it to the family of
Sophie Lefevre.
14 comments:
I LOOOOVVVVED the Goldfinch OMG that was one of the best books ever.
The Girl You Left Behind...I have eyed that book and haven't read it...hmmm now maybe i should!
Both sound like great books! I'll pick up "The Girl You Left Behind." "The Goldfinch" has 13 holds at our local library. Well, now it has 14 holds. Thanks, Rolina!
Jessica, was it Nancy that recommended it? I would say The Goldfinch has got to be one of the best books I have read for about a decade. I totally loved it.
Thanks Chris, I hope you get to the top of the list for The Goldfinch asap, even so, it will be worth the wait!
Both exceptional reads; I love all novels that have art at their core!
Thank you for sharing about these 2 books. I will have to look out for them here.
Rols, I think maybe I told Nance to read it. Can't recall. Anyhow I completely agree about it being one of the best I have read in a decade.
I love the bird image on that first book! :)
Rolina,
Thank you so much for the recommendations - they sound great!
Thanks Win, I love books with an art theme too - and movies.
Nancy, I hope you enjoy them, I am sure the Donna Tartt one will be available, at least.
Jessica, that rings a bell now, I think I vaguely remember Nancy saying that. It was a great recommendation!
Linda, I have to confess to actually judging books by their covers!
Connie, I hope you get a chance to read them!
Thanks for stopping by everyone, glad there are as many book lovers as there are art lovers visiting!
I think I am in the minority, I couldn't seem to get into reading The Goldfinch and I did try since everyone praises it, but guess its not for me
Oh Jennifer, give it another go if you can, it is worth getting through the first chapter or two, I find the beginning very slow, but once it got going, boy-oh-boy, it was great!
might give it another shot once I finish the ones I am reading now, hate not finishing a book (even tho I haven't finished 2 already this year :p)
I adored The Goldfinch! Such a good, meaty read! I will look for The Girl You Left Behind. Thanks!
Yay, Kim, another Goldfinch fan - meaty is a great way to describe it!
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