Who is the author of the novel "The Goldfinch"?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the category of modern world literature and contemporary award winning novels. "The Goldfinch" is a celebrated literary novel that won major prizes and attracted wide international readership. Knowing its author helps you stay updated with important works of recent decades that often appear in general knowledge examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The novel mentioned is "The Goldfinch".
• Four contemporary authors are listed, all associated with popular modern fiction.
• The question asks you to choose the writer of this specific novel.
• No numbers or calculations are involved; it is a pure fact based question.

Concept / Approach:
"The Goldfinch" is a novel by Donna Tartt, an American author known for writing a small number of long, carefully crafted books. It follows the life of a boy named Theo Decker and explores themes of loss, art, and identity. Other authors in the options, such as Paula Hawkins, Gillian Flynn, and Arundhati Roy, are famous for different titles like "The Girl on the Train", "Gone Girl", or "The God of Small Things". Thus, pairing "The Goldfinch" with Donna Tartt is the correct approach.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question is about the author of the novel "The Goldfinch". Step 2: Recall which writer among the options is associated with prize winning literary fiction centered on art and a painting called The Goldfinch. Step 3: Remember that Donna Tartt wrote "The Goldfinch", which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Step 4: Mark Donna Tartt as the correct option and rule out the remaining names.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this from book reviews, prize lists, and library catalogues that all attribute "The Goldfinch" to Donna Tartt. General knowledge magazines and online book stores also clearly show her name as the author on the cover. Because awards such as the Pulitzer Prize are widely publicised, references to the book almost always mention Donna Tartt by name. After cross checking once or twice, you can confidently remember this pairing for exams.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Paula Hawkins is best known for the psychological thriller "The Girl on the Train", not for "The Goldfinch".
Gillian Flynn is associated with dark thrillers such as "Gone Girl" and not this literary novel about art and loss.
Arundhati Roy is an Indian author who wrote "The God of Small Things", which is a different award winning novel.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse recent bestsellers because many names and titles are encountered together in bookshops and media. Picking any well known female novelist without matching the exact title can lead to mistakes. To prevent this, note a few key modern novels like "The Goldfinch" and clearly link each one with its correct author in your personal notes.

Final Answer:
The novel "The Goldfinch" was written by Donna Tartt, so that is the correct answer.