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Review
"[A] dazzling literary high-wire act . . . brilliant . . . The payoff is extraordinary: a fearless, acrobatic, ultimately haunting effort to combine inspired mischief with a grasp of the unthinkable."
Product Description
Nine-year-old Oskar Schell is an inventor, amateur entomologist, Francophile, letter writer, pacifist, natural historian, percussionist, romantic, Great Explorer, jeweller, detective, vegan, and collector of butterflies.
When his father is killed in the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Centre, Oskar sets out to solve the mystery of a key he disovers in his father's closet. It is a search which leads him into the lives of strangers, through the five boroughs of New York, into history, to the bombings of Dresden and Hiroshima, and on an inward journey which brings him ever closer to some kind of peace.
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What about a teakettle? Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
81 of 85 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Oskar is a nine year old living in New York, who lost his Father in 9/11. Whilst he is going through his things he accidently smashes a vase and comes across a key. Oskar is sure that the key belonged to his father and so attempts to search for which of the 162 million locks in New York it might open, in an attempt to make sense of the tragedy and keep something of his Father alive.
A parrallel narrative involves Oskar's grandparents, their relationship and the similarity between the Dresden bombings (which they witnessed) and 9/11.
I have to say that I approached this novel with some trepidation, fearing an overly sentimental or schmaltzy examination of 9/11, but I needn't have worried. With the exception of 'If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things' by Jon McGregor, this novel would have to be as close to perfection as I have ever read.
The writing is moving and poetic, with plenty of word-play. It's challenging and funny without ever taking the obvious and tested methods. I would have to say that the writing might not be to everyone's taste, there is plenty of mulling over and description, but for me this just added to the experience.
I loved Oskar and although it is hard to believe that a nine year old would be so accomplished it isn't impossible. There are many explorations in this novel of how people attempt to cope with or make sense of loss. I found the grandfather's story the most moving...to leave an unborn child becasue you can't cope with the thought that one day you may lose it.
I cried through large chunks of this book, and even though it could have been my hormones, it might be one to avoid if you have recently suffered bereavement or if you're going through a rough patch.
I'd give it six stars if I could. Remarkable.
A parrallel narrative involves Oskar's grandparents, their relationship and the similarity between the Dresden bombings (which they witnessed) and 9/11.
I have to say that I approached this novel with some trepidation, fearing an overly sentimental or schmaltzy examination of 9/11, but I needn't have worried. With the exception of 'If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things' by Jon McGregor, this novel would have to be as close to perfection as I have ever read.
The writing is moving and poetic, with plenty of word-play. It's challenging and funny without ever taking the obvious and tested methods. I would have to say that the writing might not be to everyone's taste, there is plenty of mulling over and description, but for me this just added to the experience.
I loved Oskar and although it is hard to believe that a nine year old would be so accomplished it isn't impossible. There are many explorations in this novel of how people attempt to cope with or make sense of loss. I found the grandfather's story the most moving...to leave an unborn child becasue you can't cope with the thought that one day you may lose it.
I cried through large chunks of this book, and even though it could have been my hormones, it might be one to avoid if you have recently suffered bereavement or if you're going through a rough patch.
I'd give it six stars if I could. Remarkable.
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Unlike the other reviews I didn't find this book confusing, though at times I was frustrated by it. I found the characterisation to be superb and over-shadowed the pseudo-stylistics of the book; which on the whole was incredibly engrossing. The story is subtle, as is the humour which manages to be moving at the same time. On one level the book is about one boy's personal journey to find peace, yet on another it is a covert social commentary - embodying all of the fear of post 9/11 America without ever overtly explaining anything about the incident. You will either love or hate the author's style. I for one found it frustrating at times when I would've preferred continuous prose, but that is not what the book is about. With private letters from two main characters to their son and grandson and the surreal thoughts and feelings of Oskar Schell (probably the most interesting character created in contemporary fiction), a 9 year old who has lost his father in the September 11th attacks, "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" manages to move you without being overly sentimental, amuse you without trying and entertain you as it takes in over 60 years of history without ever explaining the facts. It is neither pushy nor patronising and is wholly original in concept. Very impressive stuff.
35 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having really enjoyed 'Everything is Illuminated' I approached this with caution. I was prepared to be disappointed by 'second book syndrome'. However, having read this it seems that Jonathan Safran Foer is a real talent and not a one book wonder. This is modern literature at its best. The book is witty, insightful and incredibly sad.
Like 'Everything is Illuminated' this is a book written from several viewpoints. We have the story of Oskar whose father was a victim of 9/11 searching New York a lock to fit a key he finds in a vase belonging to his father. This is probably the best part of the book and provides its meat. Oskar is 9 years old and has about every hang up you can imagine. In some ways this part of the book reminds me of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime' though its never stated that the boy has Asperger's syndrome. Oskar is however obsessive and seems to veer strongly towards an autistic personality.
The second and third parts of the book are more in the magical realist style that Foer used for the story of the shtetl in 'Everything is Illuminated'. It follows the relationship between Oskar's Grandmother and Grandfather who is literally dumb and has to communicate by writing. The relationship begins in Dresden immediately prior to the bombing in 1945 and through this provides a sympathetic analogy to the loss of Oskar's father and of course his Grandmother's son in 9/11.
This is a huge achievement considering that 9/11 is still so fresh in everybody's mind. Brave writing that deserves to be read.
Like 'Everything is Illuminated' this is a book written from several viewpoints. We have the story of Oskar whose father was a victim of 9/11 searching New York a lock to fit a key he finds in a vase belonging to his father. This is probably the best part of the book and provides its meat. Oskar is 9 years old and has about every hang up you can imagine. In some ways this part of the book reminds me of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime' though its never stated that the boy has Asperger's syndrome. Oskar is however obsessive and seems to veer strongly towards an autistic personality.
The second and third parts of the book are more in the magical realist style that Foer used for the story of the shtetl in 'Everything is Illuminated'. It follows the relationship between Oskar's Grandmother and Grandfather who is literally dumb and has to communicate by writing. The relationship begins in Dresden immediately prior to the bombing in 1945 and through this provides a sympathetic analogy to the loss of Oskar's father and of course his Grandmother's son in 9/11.
This is a huge achievement considering that 9/11 is still so fresh in everybody's mind. Brave writing that deserves to be read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Great Read
Forget about the Tom Hanks film. It never happened.
This is a great read, charming,humorous,quirky,insightful & moving.
Buy it, read it, you won't regret it.
This is a great read, charming,humorous,quirky,insightful & moving.
Buy it, read it, you won't regret it.
Published 15 days ago by Mr. Steven M. Greenfield
Loved it!
Once I started this book, I struggled to put it down. I resented everything that took me away from it, for however short a time.
I fell for Oskar big time. Read more
I fell for Oskar big time. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Gruffalo Girl
Starkly brilliant
Not since The Other Hand by Chris Cleave have I started to read a book and refused to put it down without stopping. Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. Merrigan
Read it
This book is imaginative, beautifully written, heart-felt and unmissable. I was very sad when it came to an end and cannot recommend it strongly enough. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. Lisa J. Goldblatt
Don''t buy it on Kindle
I'm really enjoying the book but just wanted to warn other users that you they won't get the best reading experience on a kindle. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. K. A. Parker
Amazing book
This book is the 21st century's "Catcher in the Rye", the book that captures the atmosphere of a generation. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. B. Mitchell
Almost perfect
I almost totally loved this book. Oskar is an amazing character who shone throughout the novel - I know some reviewers didn't warm to him, but I think he was amazingly written. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Donna Clements
Favourite Book of All Time
This book is completely beautiful. It made my heart ache- not just because of the story, which is almost tortuously painful, but because this is the book I wish I was able to... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Anna Clare
In the end I just didn't care.....
I guess that for most readers this may turn out to be a "love it or hate it" book. Oscar is an interesting little fellow but the family dynamics of post 9/11 disaster did not ring... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Wynne Kelly
Not original at ALL
Please stop this ego stroking, this book is not original. The story is at times a straight RIP OFF of Gunter Grass's "The Tin Drum"... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kay
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