It cannot and should not be denied that Donna Tartt is a literary force to be reckoned with. The way she constructs plot and crafts characters is beyond inspiring and drew me into the world she created with The Goldfinch. At times a slow burn character study and a fast paced crime novel, The Goldfinch took me through a life. A tragic, heartbreaking,  poignant life. I couldn’t pit this book down. Tartt’s expert writing style sang off the page transporting me instantly into the setting. Her approach to dialogue felt natural and almost as if I was listening to it next door. It was flawless. The story, a feat of artistic genius, drags us around the country and yet, at times, slows to a point of mild annoyance, only to pick up right away. This book is so close to perfect and I’m astounded by its lasting affect on me.