Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Book Review by Garret

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

“It’s a shame that life is so precious.” This quote alone effectively sums up Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The second effort by the young man made famous by the 2002 bestseller, Everything is Illuminated, has “written the first great novel about September 11,” according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Foer’s much anticipated sophomore novel was a huge success, taking chances most would cower at while still sticking to the off-the-wall style that defines him.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is the story of Oskar Schell, a young boy who lost his father in the September 11 attacks. Oskar is no ordinary boy. A self-proclaimed inventor, jeweler, pacifist, vegan, and collector, Oskar is somewhat of a child prodigy. Practical, yet curious, Oskar has a knack for inventing, rattles off more facts than a search engine, and even questions his own existence, a heavy topic for a nine year old. The boy’s greatest struggle however lies in coping with the death of his father. When Oskar finds an envelope containing a mysterious key in his father’s closet, he embarks on a journey to find the corresponding lock. A touching, heartbreaking, coming-of-age adventure ensues, filled with colorful characters and unforgettable moments.

As in Everything is Illuminated, Foer tells a story within a story in his second novel. While the heart of the novel revolves around Oskar and his tireless search for the elusive lock, an alternate story tells of Oskar’s grandparents, their unconventionally tragic romance, and a mysterious connection to the 1945 bombing of Dresden, Germany. Although the two stories seem completely unrelated in the beginning, the two are brought together in an unforgettable climax.

As mentioned before, Foer takes risks in his newest novel. His style is a modern one in which pictures are inserted alongside the text. These are not the illustrations one would regularly find in a picture book, but pictures of places Oskar visits, people he meets, even pictures he takes himself. This new, refreshing medium allows the reader to truly see through Oskar’s eyes.

Though the death of Oskar Schell’s father in the 9/11 attack is an important part of the novel, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is more of a story about death itself and remembrance than one about the attacks. Oskar Schell is the perfect portal for Foer, providing the straight-forward outlook on life and the world shared by most young children. “Humans are the only animal that blushes, laughs, has religion, wages war, and kisses with lips. So in a way, the more you kiss with lips, the more human you are,” says Oskar to an older woman. She replies, “And the more you wage war?” Through the boy Foer examines themes much beyond a nine-year-old’s maturity level, matters of life, death and love.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has received critical acclaim since its 2005 release. Foer, who is only 31 years old, has already claimed his spot as a great American writer of the 21st century. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is an amazing book, a heartwarming work of a boy coping with the loss of his father, a couple trying to overcome their haunted past together, and a family that learns how precious life truly is.


Review by Garret