The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

I had heard so much about this book and couldn't wait to read it.  The beginning - gripping.  Thirteen year old Theodore Decker miraculously survives an explosion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.  As he searches for his mother , he encounters an older gentleman he had noticed earlier accompanying an attractive young girl.   Just before the man dies, he whispers instructions to Theo to save a rare small painting of a Goldfinch.  With his mother killed in the explosion and his father having long ago deserted him, Theo begins a difficult journey often pulled by the destiny of the  painting he feels compelled to keep hidden.  The ending - unsuspected, thought provoking and often beautifully written.  The middle -  a tale of drunken, drug induced debauchery about 100 pages too long which almost completely spoiled the book for me.  I loved the NYC setting.  I enjoyed the art discussion - even the parts I didn't understand.  The plot twist at the end was brilliant.   There was so much that was good about this book but there is only so much alcohol induced barfing and dysfunctional family abuse that I need to read to get the point.  I guess the Pulitzer Prize folks didn't mind it.