Despite the awards and critical acclaim, I don't see the merits others see in this book. Tartt writes in a detailed readable prose. Her scenes are vivid. There are descriptions which show the author's talent to best advantage.
But her characters are unattractive. The book has allusions to Harry Potter. Potter is even the main character's nickname. Is it possible that the suthor wants to show us what might be a more realistic result of a taking a child survivor of a terrorist attack, putting him in an abusive home, then leaving him to the influence of his peer group?
Theo is an anti-Harry. He becomes a drug abusing emotionally immature unethical young man who stumbles along hoping (when he can hope at all) for a rescue. His fellow traveler and BFF Boris is equally high and equally unethical, but he seems more appealing than Theo, if only because he is an honest gangster, not a stumbling fool.
Hurray! I made it through this book, and there may be another ten years before I need to watch for another by the same author.
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