Rating: 5
Read for: TBR Challenge 2008 & tl;dr Challenge
"What about a teakettle? What if the spout opened and closed when the steam came out, so it would become a mouth, and it could whistle pretty melodies, or do Shakespeare, or just crack up with me? I could invent a teakettle that reads in Dad’s voice, so I could fall asleep, or maybe a set of kettles that sings the chorus of “Yellow Submarine,” which is a song by the Beatles, who I love, because entomology is one of my raisons d’être, which is a French expression that I know."
So begins Jonathan Safran Foer's masterpiece. Yes, I know that's a strong word, but I feel it's appropriate. I borrowed Extremely Loud off a friend months, if not a year, ago, but didn't pick it up to read until recently. Boy, did I kick myself! If I had only known how good this was I would have read it ages ago!
Oskar Schell is an inventor, amateur entomologist, Francophile, letter writer, pacifist, natural historian, percussionist, romantic, Great Explorer, jeweller, detective, vegan, and collector of butterflies...he is also only nine years old. Still coming to terms with the death of his father in the World Trade Centre on September 11th, Oscar finds a key inside a vase in his father closet. In an attempt to get closer to his late father, Oscar embarks on a mission to find the lock this key was made for, on a journey that allows him to meet dozens of strangers, changing many of their lives forever. Through the story we learn more about Oskar's father and grandparents, and experience the bombings of Dresden and Hiroshima.
Extemely Loud is beautiful and heartfelt. Oskar's sadness and loss is very real, and Foer's writing allows the reader to become very involved in the journey. The relationship between Oskar's grandparents is intriguing and heartbreaking. The ending is so much more powerful than I imagined, leaving this reader for one, in tears. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Other blog reviews:
Nymeth @ Things Mean A Lot
Jessica @ Wanderings
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer
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4 comments:
I loved this book! I'm glad you did too :) It really is beautiful and tender and heartbreaking and just unforgettable. Have you read Everything is Illuminated? I actually loved that one even more.
I reviewed this one here.
I haven't yet read this one, but I want to. I've had a copy of this sitting on my shelf forever it seems like. I have read Foer's Everything is Illuminated, which I loved. Wonderful review!
This book took me completely by surprise and ended up being my favorite book that I've read his year. I agree that masterpiece is appropriate, it was both funny and poignant.
Nymeth - I ran out and bought Everything is Illuminated as soon as I finished this one. Might not get round to it for a while though as I really should work on my challenges!
literary feline - thanks! I cannot recommend this enough!
Jessica - this was definitely one of my favourites this year...a very pleasant surprise.
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