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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

By Jonathan Safran Foer

(24)

| Paperback | 9780241142141

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5 Reviews

4 people find this helpful

Reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

This novel from Jonathan Safran Foer (recently named one of Granta Magazine's best young American novelists) deals directly with the aftermath of 9/11 and its effect on the lives of those who were touched by the tragedy. The story is (primarily) told from the viewpoint of youngster Oskar Schell, who ... (continue)

This novel from Jonathan Safran Foer (recently named one of Granta Magazine's best young American novelists) deals directly with the aftermath of 9/11 and its effect on the lives of those who were touched by the tragedy. The story is (primarily) told from the viewpoint of youngster Oskar Schell, whose father was killed when the World Trade Center collapsed. Oskar, who was closer to his father than any other person in the world, tries to make sense of his loss. When he discovers a vase with a key inside of it in his father's closet, Oskar makes it his mission to understand what his father had to do with the key and with a mysterious person named Black. To that end, he sets out to meet every single person with the last name in New York City.
Along with Oskar, the story is also revealed through the journals of his grandfather (a man who cannot speak and must write everything down - he left his wife and unborn son many years ago) and letters of his grandmother.
The book might be a little too precious for some - Oskar is a brilliant young mastermind with great knowledge of certain things but who is clueless on other subjects. There are also several "devices" used to further the plot that some might find annoying, but I rather liked.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close actually comes to a bit of an abrupt end - as if Foer got tired of writing and just decided to wrap it all up. Even so, it's easy to get wrapped up in Oskar's story and see it through to the end.

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― moogle said on Mar 28, 2007 about the Hardcover edition | 1 feedback

1 person find this helpful

The best book I've ever read. The most intriguing characters, the most sweet-natured hilarity, the best story.

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― polacek said on Jul 31, 2007 | Add your feedback

My thoughts

This was a very moving and complicated book about a boy trying to make sense of the world in his own unique way. I especially liked the alternating storylines between Oskar's search for the lock and his grandparent's experiences in World War II and afterwards. I also liked the use of photographs in ... (continue)

This was a very moving and complicated book about a boy trying to make sense of the world in his own unique way. I especially liked the alternating storylines between Oskar's search for the lock and his grandparent's experiences in World War II and afterwards. I also liked the use of photographs in the book.

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― krin5292 said on Dec 10, 2008 | Add your feedback

Foer tends to make multiple story lines simultaneously, but it took me awhile for figure out the one with letters. I'm sure if I had read the back cover it would have came more clearly, but in the end it all flowed nicely. I really love his writing.

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― juvo said on Aug 8, 2008 | Add your feedback

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

This is a book that is hard to do justice in a review. The story is about the family of a man who lost his life in the World Trade Center during 9/11, but it's so much more than that. There is so much raw emotion in this book - love, loss, regret, fear, guilt, forgiveness, happiness, sadness - it ... (continue)

This is a book that is hard to do justice in a review. The story is about the family of a man who lost his life in the World Trade Center during 9/11, but it's so much more than that. There is so much raw emotion in this book - love, loss, regret, fear, guilt, forgiveness, happiness, sadness - it would be hard not to be touched by it. The writing style is highly unconventional. Some pages have one or two words, some have so many you can't even read them, some are nothing but pictures or numbers; but as a whole it works really well to portray the minds and feelings of the characters. An amazing read.

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― Readingrat said on Jan 12, 2008 about the Hardcover edition | Add your feedback

Book Details

Rating:
(24)
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English Books
Paperback 368 Pages
ISBN-10: 0241142148
ISBN-13: 9780241142141
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton
Pub date: Jan 01, 2005
Dimensions: 23 cm x 15 cm x 3 cm Just how big is that?
Also available as: Hardcover, Audio CD, Audio Cassette and Others
In other languages: other languages Livres Français, Libros en Español, Libri Italiani, Svenska böcker