"When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food..."
-Erasmus
We have both books & nectar of the gods ... coffee! Along with the best conversation no money can buy - Come in today and enjoy us live & in person.
Oh, No! No Inventory Update
UPDATE on updating our in-store inventory, so that you can see online just what we have or can get for you:
Our work-around is sporadic at best and what you see as "in stock" may not be and vice versa.
The only reliable information is that if the status is: "hard to find," that book really is really hard to get (at a reasonable price)!
Please give us a call 815-285-2665 or write us chin@booksonfirst.com if you need additional help.
We thank you for your patience.
The Goldfinch: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction) (Mass Market)
A young New Yorker grieving his mother's death is pulled into a gritty underworld of art and wealth in this "extraordinary" and beloved Pulitzer Prize winner that "connects with the heart as well as the mind" (Stephen King, New York Times Book Review).
Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by a longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into a wealthy and insular art community.
As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love -- and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.
The Goldfinch is a mesmerizing, stay-up-all-night and tell-all-your-friends triumph, an old-fashioned story of loss and obsession, survival and self-invention. From the streets of New York to the dark corners of the art underworld, this "soaring masterpiece" examines the devastating impact of grief and the ruthless machinations of fate (Ron Charles, Washington Post).
About the Author
Donna Tartt is the author of The Goldfinch, which was awarded the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well as the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. Her novels The Secret History and The Little Friend have been translated into 30 languages. She was born in Greenwood, Mississippi and is a graduate of Bennington College.
Praise For…
"A soaring masterpiece."—Ron Charles, Washington Post
"Dazzling....A glorious, Dickensian novel, a novel that pulls together all Ms. Tartt's remarkable storytelling talents into a rapturous, symphonic whole and reminds the reader of the immersive, stay-up-all-night pleasures of reading."—Michiko Kakutani, New York Times
"The Goldfinch is a rarity that comes along perhaps half a dozen times per decade, a smartly written literary novel that connects with the heart as well as the mind....Donna Tartt has delivered an extraordinary work of fiction."—Stephen King, New York Times Book Review
"The Goldfinch is a book about art in all its forms, and right from the start we remember why we enjoy Donna Tartt so much: the humming plot and elegant prose; the living, breathing characters; the perfectly captured settings....Joy and sorrow exist in the same breath, and by the end The Goldfinch hangs in our stolen heart."—Vanity Fair
"Drenched in sensory detail, infused with Theo's churning thoughts and feelings, sparked by nimble dialogue, and propelled by escalating cosmic angst and thriller action, Tartt's trenchant, defiant, engrossing, and rocketing novel conducts a grand inquiry into the mystery and sorrow of survival, beauty and obsession, and the promise of art."—Booklist (starred review)
"There's a bewitching urgency to the narration that's impossible to resist. Theo is magnetic...The Goldfinch is a pleasure to read."—Publishers Weekly
"A long-awaited, elegant meditation on love, memory, and the haunting power of art....Eloquent and assured, with memorable characters....A standout--and well-worth the wait."—KirkusReviews (starred review)
"It's a classic...If you haven't read it, read it. If you have, read it again."—Andy Cohen, Today Show
"Where to begin? Simply put, I'm indescribably jealous of any reader picking up this masterpiece for the first time. And once they do, they will long remember the heartrending character of Theo Decker and his unthinkable journey."—Sarah Jessica Parker for Goop
The world is everchanging and sometimes, not for the better, unfortunately. With the new eBook partnership, Books on First and IndieCommerce regret to announce that customers are unable to use your Books on First giftcards to buy ebooks online.
You can still buy titles in other formats (hardcover, paperback, audio CDs) with a Books on First gift card as well as buy a Books on First giftcard which we will send especially to that lucky recipient (free postage!) who can use it with us online (for everything but ebooks) and in-store.
More than a card.
More value than many other store-bought surprises (except a book!)
Put a 3D paper sculpture in a loved one's hands and see the spontaneous delight.
That's a lovepop.
PSST! We have something for that Beatles fan of yours.
They're Here! Coffeehouse-Inspired Candles
We are excited to be selling Ana's Handpoured Coffeehouse-Inspired Candles -- Triple Espresso, Hazelnut Latte, Salted Caramel Macchiato Latte & Coconut Brew in travel (& power-outage)-ready tins.
And, now, more fragrances for the season: Apple Toddy, Chai and Pumpkin Spice Latte
Tim's Bees Have Been Busy and the Honey is Back! And, We Now Have Garlic for Sale, Too!
For Sale at Books on First
From Tim Benedict's Orion Artisinal Honey & Garlic Farm
HONEY from BEES flying around FRANKLIN GROVE, IL
Two Sizes of Beautiful Glass Jars --
What a Great Gift Idea!
(pssst! If you find that having 19 of those empty bottles is a little joyless, return them to us for $1 each)
It's been said that local honey is great for warding off bad germs and aiding in the relief of sinus/breathing difficulties. Regardless, it tastes great!
Based on the Book ...
We are always delighted when someone sees a movie in the book, because now, millions of more people know about the book! It might have been a great film or it might have been a total dud.
But, read the book yourself to see just how good or different the original is!