The Goldfinch

by Donna Tartt

And that’s why I’ve chosen to write these pages as I’ve written them. For only by stepping into the middle zone, the polychrome edge between truth and untruth, is it tolerable to be here and writing this at all.

it is a glory and a privilege to love what Death doesn’t touch.

For if disaster and oblivion have followed this painting down through time—so too has love.