mehastings
Active Member
February 2007 Book of the Month: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer:
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Jonathan Safran Foer: Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close
- Thread starter mehastings
- Start date
mehastings
Active Member
I thought I would start this month's discussion off with a question from The Loft Literary Center. They have a number of good questions about this book there. Feel free to answer the question asked, or to talk about something completely different.
In his review of the book, critic and novelist Michel Faber asks, “Aren't we accustomed to suspending disbelief for an unnaturally articulate pre-adult voice?”
Was Oskar a convincing narrator or did you have trouble suspending your disbelief?
In his review of the book, critic and novelist Michel Faber asks, “Aren't we accustomed to suspending disbelief for an unnaturally articulate pre-adult voice?”
Was Oskar a convincing narrator or did you have trouble suspending your disbelief?
steffee
Active Member
Ooh, I've read this. Didn't realise it had been even nominated else I'd have reread it for the occasion. But anyway...
I think Oskar was not only a believable narrator but a fantastic one! Admittedly, parts of the novel were far-fetched, such as Oskar's grandfather being unable to speak (although even that premise remains fairly convincing) and the neighbour who never went out (and this too - even the most extraordinary aspects still could happen), but these did not really contribute to the story, or Oskar's telling of it anyway. I felt that his voice could be typical of that of any nine-year-old boy who had lost his father in such circumstances - from the constant playing over of the voice messages left by his father on that fateful day to him inflicting "bruises on himself" (maybe mis-quoted, over a year since I read it), to his closeness to his grandmother.
I'll concede that I can't actually remember what the key unlocked in the end, could someone enlighten me...
I thought the entire book was an amazing accomplishment for a writer so early in his writing career, and loved all the (perhaps unecessary) pages fulll of numbers and writing on top of writing on top of writing, etc.
As an aside, having read Faber's Under the Skin, I think he has a cheek saying anything about suspending disbelief...
I think Oskar was not only a believable narrator but a fantastic one! Admittedly, parts of the novel were far-fetched, such as Oskar's grandfather being unable to speak (although even that premise remains fairly convincing) and the neighbour who never went out (and this too - even the most extraordinary aspects still could happen), but these did not really contribute to the story, or Oskar's telling of it anyway. I felt that his voice could be typical of that of any nine-year-old boy who had lost his father in such circumstances - from the constant playing over of the voice messages left by his father on that fateful day to him inflicting "bruises on himself" (maybe mis-quoted, over a year since I read it), to his closeness to his grandmother.
I'll concede that I can't actually remember what the key unlocked in the end, could someone enlighten me...
I thought the entire book was an amazing accomplishment for a writer so early in his writing career, and loved all the (perhaps unecessary) pages fulll of numbers and writing on top of writing on top of writing, etc.
As an aside, having read Faber's Under the Skin, I think he has a cheek saying anything about suspending disbelief...
murraymint11
New Member
Ultimately I found this a depressing book; there were no happy endings, nor any sense of real hope or closure. Not for Oskar, his Mum or his grandparents. The only part to really raise my spirits was the personal letter sent at last to Oskar by Stephen Hawking.
I did enjoy Oskar's voice - this was what kept me turning the pages - but it was not really believable as belonging to a nine-year-old, even a very bright one.
I did enjoy Oskar's voice - this was what kept me turning the pages - but it was not really believable as belonging to a nine-year-old, even a very bright one.
And I really wanted to know what was in the safety deposit box......!
The waveguide
Member
I quite liked this book. It is somewhat different. Oskar is very real one, not a fake. I liked that he "googled" a lot - this is what children (both old and young ) are doing today to find information, do not they?
I also regret that I did not have this book before I travelled to New York about five years ago. Would be nice to recognize places from the book.
But still I guess that "Everything Is Illuminated" by Foer is a much-much better book than the "extremely loud" one. That one had an ingenious a sence of humor. "Extremely loud" one tries to mimic the "everything is illuminated", or at least I had such a feeling.
) are doing today to find information, do not they?I also regret that I did not have this book before I travelled to New York about five years ago. Would be nice to recognize places from the book.
But still I guess that "Everything Is Illuminated" by Foer is a much-much better book than the "extremely loud" one. That one had an ingenious a sence of humor. "Extremely loud" one tries to mimic the "everything is illuminated", or at least I had such a feeling.
The waveguide
Member
By the way, it is my first time that I participate in a discussion of "the book of the month". Somehow I could not find what to say.
So when I decided to post here (this time I had something to say about the Foer book), I looked in a history of the already discussed books. Astonishingly, "Lolita" had much more responses than this February discussion book. Well it is not strange at all, Lolita is very provocative and one can not compare Foer to Nabokov (would be like comparing a mongrel pony to Orlov's trotter
)
Foer is just cute. And he has his very own style.
So when I decided to post here (this time I had something to say about the Foer book), I looked in a history of the already discussed books. Astonishingly, "Lolita" had much more responses than this February discussion book. Well it is not strange at all, Lolita is very provocative and one can not compare Foer to Nabokov (would be like comparing a mongrel pony to Orlov's trotter
)Foer is just cute. And he has his very own style.
This was something I had trouble with. If he was a little older than a 9-year-old, I could have believed it. But it's a little unbelievable for me.
I had trouble turning the pages because it didn't have enough to compel me to read further. The only thing that made me do so is to know which lock was the key supposed to open, and which person was the name Black belong to and how that same person is related to Oskar's father.
So could somebody help me solve the mystery to the key? I would really appreciate it.
One thing I enjoyed though was the graphics and photos. It's somehow a little visual break from reading on the lock's search and the family history which could be a little tiring, well at least for me.
I'm not sure what to think of the pages with words or sentences. In the first place I don't quite like the idea of his grandfather dedicating every page for just a single word or a sentence. It's just something that doesn't make sense.
freespirit
New Member
Has anyone taken the time to figure out what is written or said on pages 269-271? This is where, I believe, the renter is in an airport again calling Grandma. I have looked a little online but wasn't about to find anything, and before i spend an hour figuring it out, was curious if soemone already had.