Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: A Novel

Brilliant and extraordinary. A very touching expression of the pain of losing a loved one, of nothing making sense anymore. A little boy's frantic struggle to make sense out of his beloved father's terrible death. An old man choosing to never love again, only because he doesn't want to lose someone as he has lost before. And many more lovable and relatable characters come together in this spectacular work. Not just another book centering around themes of terrorism,war and death, but one that will leave you spellbound and wanting to read it all over again. The beauty of it is that the author gets all this across to you in such a heartfelt manner, at the same time without loosening the grip on the storyline . Usually books with so high an emotional quotient do not have much of a plot, but this will surprise you, as many a time you will find yourself curious to find out what will happen next, but also wanting to go back and reread the last chapter. :) I declare this a must-read for every human being with even the remotest sense of emotion in him.

A very eccentric way of narration with a myriad of random thoughts that seem foolish at first but brings about a blissful and nostalgic mood with a splash of adventure.

This has come out to be better than the movie, and I mean a movie that had someone like Tom Hanks in it. Brilliant concept, great treatment of the story at hand. Loved the way the details have been spread across the pages of the book and classy american narrative, bring back the memories of arthur miller!

ok

Hardly have I ever read a book so full of tragedy that brings out hope and new beginnings towards its end. I found it hard to brush aside the disbelief that most of the narrative was supposed to be from a child's perspective. Speaking as a former child, either I was emotionally stunted, or extremely daft, since this precocious (but quite Freudian) child seems to me to be possible solely in the realm of fiction.

This was one of those books for me which I could not put down until it was over. I loved it specifically for its simple writing, which managed to portray some extremely complex characters and their interactions with each other in the purest form. I was having ‘heavy shoes’ multiple times while reading this one.

good

Sorely disappointed with the book. Don’t see the hype surrounding it. Expected much more. Writing is tooo haphazard for my liking.

This book gets in the mind of a boy who thinks a little differently from most of us. A savant level of intelligence and an enquiring mind are set against the difficulties 9 year old Oskar has with social interaction, as well as other phobias he has gained for the use of public transport, tall buildings, crossing bridges etc., following the death of his Father in the terrorist attacks of September 11. Oskar is one of the most interesting and engaging protagonists I can think of. He is not merely a curiosity - this is a character we really get to know and understand throughout this work as he hunts for the lock that will fit the key he has found in his father's closet a year after his death. There were many poignant moments in this book, and it played masterfully on the emotions. Nevertheless it was not a trite weepy about the murder of a boy's father, nor a jingoistic romp through some kind of patriotic fervour. Those elements were almost completely absent in this book, and instead we had a private search for hope, meaning and love. Stylistically this book is very much in the "contemporary" genre. That is a genre I often disdain because so often the books seem to be all about the clever writing rather than the story. This book has all kinds of experimental aspects, but in this case I think they come off nicely. For instance, all the speech is jumbled together in this book. The normal rule is to start a new speaker on a new paragraph, but that is ignored here and we have a conversation taking place all in the same paragraph. This was extremely confusing to read and slowed me down quite a bit. Nevertheless as the narrator's voice was 9 year old Oskar, I felt it kind of made the point. Here was a narrator that just did not think like a normal 9 year old boy. However things were not perfect with this book. The main problem was the grandparent's reminiscences that were running parallel in the book. These slowed down the story, and I was inclined to speed read through some of this. It was clear that the author was juxtaposing two different dark events in the story, so I can see why he put it there. However I think he should take a clue from David Mitchell's remarkable ability to change voice in a story and written the grandparents story back in a more familiar style. By clustering all the dialogue on single paragraphs in those sections too, I felt the effect of that literary device was lost. There was also more experimentation with use of pictures, and other segments. For best enjoyment, do not read this book on a kindle, where some sections are unreadable, and where you miss the effect of the colour pages. The ebook looks good on an iPad, albeit missing the flickbook section at the end of the paper copy. I ended up reading a mixture of ebook and paper copies of this work. All in all though, this was a great work. It richly deserves to do well, and should be remembered for a long time for the wonderful characterisation of Oskar alone.

This book is honestly amazing. The subject of 9/11 is worked into the story in a very subtle way so that it isn't a documentary but an amazing story. It's about what loss does to a family, and it's extremely difficult to imagine that so many people went through this. Very emotional and real. LOVE it.

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer is a novel that elicits strong reactions. It's a story that delves into grief, loss, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, told through the eyes of a highly intelligent and emotionally complex nine-year-old boy, Oskar Schell. Here's a breakdown of some key aspects: Key Themes and Characteristics: Grief and Trauma: The novel powerfully portrays the experience of grief, particularly through the lens of a child struggling to process a profound loss. It explores how trauma can manifest in different ways, and how individuals seek to cope with overwhelming emotions. Oskar Schell: Oskar is a unique and memorable narrator, characterized by his precocious intellect, his anxieties, and his imaginative approach to the world. His quest to find the meaning of a mysterious key left by his father drives the narrative, leading him on a journey of self-discovery and connection. Narrative Style: Foer employs a distinctive and experimental narrative style, incorporating photographs, typographical variations, and multiple narrative threads. This approach contributes to the novel's emotional intensity and its exploration of fragmented experience. 9/11 as a Backdrop: The novel uses the 9/11 attacks as a backdrop to explore universal themes of loss, connection, and the search for understanding. It examines the impact of tragedy on individuals and communities, and the ways in which people seek to find meaning in the face of devastation. Critical Reception: The novel has received both praise and criticism for its experimental style and its handling of sensitive subject matter. Some readers find Oskar's voice and journey to be deeply moving and insightful, while others find them to be contrived or emotionally manipulative. The use of the 9/11 tragedy as a back drop for a fictional story was also a point of contention for some. The book was also adapted into a film, which also recieved mixed reviews. Overall: "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking novel that explores complex themes with a unique and challenging narrative style. It's a book that is likely to resonate with readers who are interested in exploring the human experience of grief, loss, and resilience.

Wonderful book. Arrived quickly and in great shape.

A lire absolument, une urgence, un cri du coeur, un véritable petit bijou de livre. Le style est unique, surprenant, et attachant. A la fois drôle et tragique, il raconte la recherche naïve mais aussi extrêmement poussée d'un petit garçon qui a trouvé une clef dans la chambre de son papa, ce dernier ayant disparu lors des attentats du 11 septembre. Face à la complexité de la tâche, et surtout celle du monde qui l'entoure, il fait face avec un sérieux déconcertant pour un petit garçcon de 8 ans. On rit, on pleurt, on se questionne énormément en lisant un livre qui explore de nouvelles techniques pour raconter l'histoire: une page blanche, voire deux, ou plus, peuvent en dire beaucoup plus qu'une série de mots dénués de sens dans un monde quasi absurde. Le visuel fait donc partie intégrante de la narration, et l'enrichit de manière intelligente. Un tour de force, à lire absolument...