Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a great read! Oskar was the perfect young narrator, with a voice truly all his own. I’ve had people tell me they’re holding off on this book because it seems so sad, but it’s not really. The way sadness is approached in this book is with the right amount of heart, humor, and hope that it’s a delightful read rather than a depressing one. Oskar’s adventures in searching for a way to honor and remember his father are really a journey of grief and self-exploration. From the very first page, I was ready to cheer him on and ride along with him. The story even gives you a view into Oskar’s family history which gave the prose even more depth, and reminded me of The History of Love, one of my favorites. If you’ve ready Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, check out The History of Love; and if you haven’t, then read both!
Love, love, love this book! Have you read Jonathan Safran Foer’s other book Everything is Illuminated? Completely different from Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close, but the characters are just as wonderful and memorable. I literally laughed out loud at some points. And you’re completely right to compare Extremely Loud, Incredible Close with History of Love because they’re both beautifully written books.
Thanks Gretchen! I haven’t read Everything Is Illuminated yet, but I’ll put it on my radar!
Kimberly