The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt

Long. Now I don’t mind long books if they can keep me engaged and there were times where my mind was in… but it did wander. A young boy survives a bomb-blowout in an art museum, while his mother does not. He’s fortunately taken in by a friend’s family as opposed to foster-care. His father? Nope – out of the picture. We see how he struggles to make sense of his new life and we follow his journey through the ages. He becomes entranced by one of the few things that reminds him of his mother… an entrancing painting that eventually lures Theo into the art underworld. If you want a story of loss (which we all deal with), survival (which at the end of the day we all do) and self-discovery, this book ticks your list.