The Goldfinch: Donna Tartt

Theo Decker is 13 years old, lives in NYC, and one day something catastrophic happens which changes the course of his life. From that point on he embarks on a journey across an American landscape of wealth, obsession, survival and impending doom, all the while protective of a very small painting that retains a link with his mother, but may well be the key to his future.

Donna Tartt is the author of The Secret History which caused a big stir 11 years ago, and which I loved – but this one is even better. It’s huge, epic, brilliant, mesmerising and astonishingly good.