Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: A Novel

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It's a hit!

If Foer's phenomenal sophomore novel is about anything it's about Longing. For the past and for the future. For things you've lost and for things ... (show more)

If Foer's phenomenal sophomore novel is about anything it's about Longing. For the past and for the future. For things you've lost and for things you will never have. It's backdrop is NYC shortly after that terrible September day and it's most powerful voices are of the nine-year old protagonist and his mute grandfather, each with a secret equally heartbreaking. The two disparate voices wind up coalescing towards the end, but not before we are treated to a certain dichotomy that serves as the centerpiece of this novel: War and Terrorism, it's examples being the 9/11 attacks of the World Trade Center and the Allied bombing of Dresden. It may seem off-putting to some to compare the two events but I think Foer pulls it off seamlessly. Tragedy is tragedy, no matter what the source, and it's from the ashes of these two tragic events that this story is born. I can not recommend it highly enough. (show less)

 

 

by Jesse Rodriguez

No, it's a flop!

The flow of the book is OK, it just keeps going on and on a little bit too much. I did not find it exciting, I did not have the oppressive impulse ... (show more)

The flow of the book is OK, it just keeps going on and on a little bit too much. I did not find it exciting, I did not have the oppressive impulse to read it all from the beginning to the end. I find the main character, a nine-year-old boy who lost his father in 9/11, a little bit fictitious. The idea of a young child trying to search for his father, starting a whole investigation because he refuses to believe he lost his dad is very catchy, the book is somehow triggering strong emotions. It becomes a particularly fascinating book when one realizes the connection between the path of the granddad and Oskar, I loved that moment. Oskar in fact was 'reinforced' in the search of his father because he found the hand written signatures that his granddad did while testing several pens. Besides from these moments when the plot of the author reveals itself, I found the character of the kid very detached from reality. The passion for science, the extremely cultured young boy, the passion for testing and scientific research does not apply to my idea of a nine-year-old boy, for sure I was not like that when I was nine. Also the e-mail exchanges with persons of a strong scientific background as Stephen Hawking transformed the struggle of a kid searching for a father in a puppet clown created by the author in the attempt to resemble a super cool kid with a passion for science. It is a little bit too far fetched to be credible. I found this step a little bit disappointing, to be honest I do not really understand what it all has to do with the book, besides from giving the idea that this kid was really passionate for researches. (show less)

 

 

by Joani Batistea

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  This was the best book that I have read in a long long long time. From the first page it is funny, touching, and brilliant and the writing is unique and fresh.The story centers around a young boy coming to grips with his father's death in the World Trade Centers and trying to uncover some of the mysteries surrounding his life. But is written from a few different people's point of view. Sometimes these people are blurred, sometimes you're not even sure who is telling the story. But by the end ... (show more)

  This was the best book that I have read in a long long long time. From the first page it is funny, touching, and brilliant and the writing is unique and fresh.The story centers around a young boy coming to grips with his father's death in the World Trade Centers and trying to uncover some of the mysteries surrounding his life. But is written from a few different people's point of view. Sometimes these people are blurred, sometimes you're not even sure who is telling the story. But by the end of the book you begin to understand that this isn't three stories about people, this is one story about a family. I can't remember ever crying from a book, but the last 2 or 3 pages of this book are so touching and beautiful that I found myself in tears as I finished the last line. This is an outstanding, different, all together incredible book that you must read. (show less)

   

   

  by Ryan Jantz on Sep 15, 2009 at 06:40PM

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  This is a phenomenal book! At the beginning, I was a bit unsure what to expect because the story bounces around and it isn't entirely clear at any given point what direction the story is going in or how things are going to end up. In the end, however, that's exactly what made the story so good. As the tale progresses, more is revealed and more connections are made. The further into it I got, the harder it was for me to put it down, and by the end I was racing from page to page to find out... (show more)

  This is a phenomenal book! At the beginning, I was a bit unsure what to expect because the story bounces around and it isn't entirely clear at any given point what direction the story is going in or how things are going to end up. In the end, however, that's exactly what made the story so good. As the tale progresses, more is revealed and more connections are made. The further into it I got, the harder it was for me to put it down, and by the end I was racing from page to page to find out what would happen next.
  The story revolves around a 9-year old boy named Oskar who is searching for a lock (sounds simple enough, right?). This particular lock is opened by a key that Oakar found in his deceased father's belongings. His search symbolic of a larger search for meaning and an attempt to establish a bond with his father. Oskar's unique personality contributes to the unusual, engaging situations that he finds himself in.
  The story as a whole is about loss and sadness, but it is also about discovery. In addition, it is about our relationships with those around us and the bonds with those closest to us as well as those we see, but may not recognize, in our everyday lives.
  Certainly, anyone who has expreienced the loss of someone close to them will see parts of themselves in Oskar. (show less)

   

   

  by Ken on Jan 30, 2009 at 08:55PM

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