Theo Decker is 13 years old when a bombing in an art gallery in New York kills his mother. Theo moves in with his childhood best friend’s family while being silently tortured from the grief of losing his mother. While recovering, he is insistent that a girl he saw in the art gallery had saved his life. While trying to return a ring the girl’s (Pippa’s) uncle had given him in the art gallery, Theo finds two new companions: Pippa, and Pippa’s uncle's friend, Hobie. After forming close bonds with both of them, Pippa moves away, but Theo keeps up a good relationship with Hobie, and finally starts settling into his uncomfortable new life. Soon after, Theo’s alcoholic father comes to bring him to Las Vegas where he had previously moved to. The novel follows Theo into adulthood where he is still tormented and longing for his mother to return.
The book is beautifully written and descriptive, while representing Theo’s emotions and thoughts. Incredibly enjoyable and interesting to read. The novel provides a unique perspective into the life of a grieving young boy. The book introduces so many bright and relatable characters to help tell the story of this young boy’s life, each one necessary in order to fill the space of the sorrow and emptiness surrounding Theo. The character’s each have their own story to tell, and the author provides so much detail on how every person you meet can have such an interesting story of their life.
The book is a great choice to read. A slow start to it, but hard to put down once you get past the first chunk. Expressive and amazing storytelling. Read it with an open mind and really pay attention to the small things, you don’t know what you’ll miss. I have never read a book by this specific author before, but her work is wonderfully written and so grasping of the world. You really understand each character and even learn so much about specific places just in New York. Every chapter is exciting and new, with just the right amount of twists and edges to the story.
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