Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

[Breana]

In Jonathan Safran Foer’s tear jerking novel, he writes about a young boy who is going through the loss of his father’s death, and the things a nine year old boy, or even anyone shouldn’t go through. Although this book is one for the waterworks, it has a great story line to it about a boy who was once so close to his father and has a difficult time overcoming his death. Foer keeps his audience on the edge of their seat while they experience the journey with Oskar trying to find what this missing key goes to that he found in his father’s closest about a year after he died. Oskar thinks that finding what this mysterious key goes to will lead him closer to his father, and he goes on one heck of a journey trying to do so. Another thing that triggers the audience is that his father died on September 11th, a very unforgetful day that many people could relate to. It is filled with sadness and makes the reader empathetic towards Oskar but it also has some humor it. From all the unusual things he does or says or from the ‘nerdiness’ from him and his father. Although Oskar is faced with depression, panic attacks and insomnia, he is one of the smartest kids with a great imagination. He has a mother who is never really there because she works a lot but the bond her and her son make indirectly by the end of this novel is heartwarming. His grandmother is overprotective of him and cares to his every need when he needs someone. For his grandfather… that’s something to find out later in the story,
For some readers this book is an eye opener to life, using the sayings “live everyday like it’s your last” and “never take anyone or anything for granted” fits this book completely. The emotions Oskar goes through from the death of his father at such a young age makes the reader appreciate more to life. Foer has quotes that he uses throughout his characters that are very inspirational and should be leaving a message to the reader. For example; “Why didn't I learn to treat everything like it was the last time. My greatest regret was how much I believed in the future” (Foer). And the quote “I hope that one day you will have the experience of doing something you do not understand for someone you love” (Foer). It’s the kind of book that after its read, makes you think, opens your eyes to appreciate what you have right in front of you and to never stop going after what you love.