Everything is Illuminated

[Gorfo]

Discuss Everything is Illuminated here! Feel free to express anything from a beautiful passage or something you found surprising. You can talk about something that appealed to you, or something that upset you or anything really! So let the conversation flow!

[Sarah]

I read this book in one of my classes this year and I was really excited and everything because I read one of Jonathan Safran Foer's book before and I fell in love with it but this book just didn't draw me in as much and the end of the book kept me wanting more

[Ana]

This book was a really interesting one to me; it seems amazingly pretentious at times (typical of our friend), but I have to admit that I really quite like this book. (I don't want to offer any spoilers!)

[Cait]

I had an entire semester class about the holocaust. I read this book and wrote a paper about it for the end of class final. I compared the scenes throughout Foer's book to actual documented events. It is a beautiful book that while fictitious, still has many frightening real life scenarios tied into a wonderful, and at times humorous, story line. I admire Foer's ability to write stories based on difficult and dark times in history (see also Foer's book Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, about 9-11). Great author, great story. Good book choice.

[Dylan]

I just started the book yesterday, what's with all the spleen usage In that first chapter?

[Black Queen]

I just started the book too, and it seems very interesting so far.

[Johnnie]

Chapter 1 was hilarious! I actually read it out loud to my wife. There has been some criticism of using a thesaurus as a literary device but I found it in perfect character for these crazy Ukrainian Poles. Good introduction and I am hooked. I have seen the movie.

[Gorfo]

I'm excited to read the first chapter! I've seen parts of the movie! It looks good but I still have yet to crack the book!

[Jill]

I'm loving it!! Very entertaining....love the broken English and extreme use of the theasaurus...HAHAHAHAHA! Sammy Davis Junior Junior...how funny is that!!

[Johnnie]

OK I have pressed on and my opinion is as schizophrenic as the author's story. I do like the slapstick humor with the Rabbi's and the suffer-able religious divisions and I get Jewish self-deprecation (like Catholic guilt) but it seems the author is trying too hard to do art or write the great American Novel. Some of the disjointed passages are so distracting from the story that I fear the whole book is this way. The author has taken his talent as a writer too serious and has committed, in parts, the great sin of boring the reader with unimportant drivel (Book of Dreams, really?). Also the three-part timeline without any narrative aid will be glorified as inventive and groundbreaking but is to the reader confusing and distracting to the real story. He certainly is a product of the liberal university system as the underlying issue of the Jewish community is nothing less than a tedious lecture on multiculturalism. But the main story is not only funny but compelling.

[Johnnie]

One last chapter before bed and was I ever rewarded! Falling in Love 1791 was not only wonderfully written but tugged at my heart both as a father (and grandfather) and as a husband! I fell in love with her even before I saw her...I smelled her! was exactly how I have always felt about my bride! The love for this lottery child is wonderfully endearing told in the most remarkable way. Again, I am hooked!

[Mystery Fro]

I am a little hesitant to start this book...It doesn't seem like my kinds of books (although I don't really have a concrete idea of what my type of book is)

[Tara]

I'm a couple chapters in and I'm hoping I can make it to the parts where the story tugs at my heart. I'm liking the straight narrative sections but I have to say that I find long passages in mocking broken English 1) somewhat offensive and 2) annoying as hell to try and wade through. I'm with Jonnie that the book would be a lot more interesting to read if the author wasn't so intent on proving himself prize worthy.

[Johnnie]

OKAY, I have never tried to prove myself as a semi-pro athlete and I promise not to try to repair the broken reactor in Japan. So the author should leave philosophy to the philosophers! A whle three page passage on life and death and he has nothing substantial to offer and it distracts from the story. Did he attend college? Has he read Kant, Kierkegaard, Koestler? Then keep it simple and write to the audience not lecture and certainly not do so in ignorance. Still I enjoy the main story. The dialog is difficult since it is in single paragraphs (pretentious) but funny and drives the story well. I tolerate the history but it is tedious and does not drive the story as well.

[Tara]

I'm considering skipping every chapter written in oversexed, oversimplified, condescending Ukranian - maybe that will make the story more appealing? Oh, and I'll skip the philosophy and history too if that will help.

[Johnnie]

Deera wrote: "I am a little hesitant to start this book...It doesn't seem like my kinds of books (although I don't really have a concrete idea of what my type of book is)"

With what I have read so far, it is hard to recommend. A serious literature reader would enjoy it and probably rave about it but a "peasant reader" would find it tedious and the three story lines simultaneously interwoven without some intro is distracting and makes the story more post-modern artsy than straight forward.

[Tara]

Once upon a time I was a serious literature reader but I'm getting old and cranky now. It's not that I can't do symbolism and subtext (I used to read William Blake and Edith Sitwell for "pleasure") but the reward has to be there and it has to feel to me like the hard stuff is substantive, not ego-driven. I'm not sure that's true of this book.

[Johnnie]

Tara wrote: "Once upon a time I was a serious literature reader but I'm getting old and cranky now. It's not that I can't do symbolism and subtext (I used to read William Blake and Edith Sitwell for "pleasure")..."

Very well said.

[Ana]

This book is highly pretentious. However, in its own convoluted, amusing way that tugs at the corners of my mouth I found in it an enjoyable story notwithstanding; the ostentatious nature of the author seemed to give it all the more character.

[Deborah]

Quantisha wrote: "I just started the book too, and it seems very interesting so far."

I just started it too. First chapter very frustrating for me.

[Deborah]

Tara wrote: "I'm a couple chapters in and I'm hoping I can make it to the parts where the story tugs at my heart. I'm liking the straight narrative sections but I have to say that I find long passages in mockin..."

You guys have put your finger on what is making me crazy about this book. So far, I'm not impressed with the writing and find it extremely distracting.

[Johnnie]

Great line: "Do you know where Trachimbrod is? You have found me!"

[Tita]

I'm a few chapters in and finding it difficult to make sense of the story so far. I'm really confused about the narration too. I get that Alex is translating (badly) but really unclear of the chapters that switch off and the characters. A little too cryptic for me so far, but I'm hoping I figure it out soon.

[Tara]

I'm enjoying the historical story but I think it's too much work to get to it. I'm fairly close to getting fed up and giving up. Maybe one more evening of reading...

[Carly]

I enjoyed the book then got the movie - I like the movie better.

[Johnnie]

Carly wrote: "I enjoyed the book then got the movie - I like the movie better."

Two completely different stories as well. The movie is better. The screen writer should get an award just for rewriting this mess.

[Kelley]

I am not currently reading this book, but did read it a couple of years ago. I found the basic story touching and at times funny. However, all of the extra rambling took away from the story and at times made me feel that reading the book was very painful. It is not often that anyone likes the movie better than the book, and while I have seen teh movie, those comments don't suprise me.

[Carly]

From what I could see, the movie dispensed with all the letter writing that went on between the Euchranin boy and Jonathon.

Other than that, it seemed to follow true to the story line.

[[deleted user]]

I am about to start!

[Rebecca]

I think it's interesting that so many of you find Alex's "translated" letters to Jonathan annoying. I love them. I think the misuse of synonymous words and improper idioms is hilarious. "I'm sorry if this seems half-witted but maybe you can explain and make it whole-witted." or "I'm sorry for all the petite talk. I must be making you a boring person." it's funny. The names of the Jewish characters are hard for me to follow but if you take it slowly it comes easier.

[Johnnie]

Carly wrote: "From what I could see, the movie dispensed with all the letter writing that went on between the Euchranin boy and Jonathon.

Other than that, it seemed to follow true to the story line."

There are quite a few differences the primary being that the grandfather was not Jewish in the book and his sin is the failure to stand up for his Jewish friend. In the movie he is a Jew and survives by pretending his death. Lista is not realted to Augustine and does not know her and the father abandons the family - or is thrown out! Hence, these significant changes make the movie a better and more realistic read.

[Sarah]

I'm just reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Foer, difficult because of all the tangents, but brilliant in the clarity of such a convoluted mind. I like complicated prose, but find it difficult to empathize with the boy as much as I might if he weren't so 'different.' From the commments here about the Illuminating book, the tangents get worse. Thanks for the insights, though.

[Gorfo]

I loved Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close! You just kinda have to go with it and be flexible, if that makes any sense. At first the writing style may be difficult but soon enough you situate yourself and the ride is smooth :). I'm officially staring Everything is Illuminated right now by the way.

[Marie]

"...all of the extra rambling took away from the story and at times made me feel that reading the book was very painful."
This is my stumbling block but I'll give it another go!

[Grace]

o man am i the only one who does not like this book even a little bit?!

[Tara]

Grace, I did like some parts of the historical story but not enough to keep reading. I've given up, there simply isn't enough meat in the story and the author's ego is far too evident. There are so many good books to read, I decided I don't need to power on through bad ones.

[Tita]

I liked parts of it, especially the 'translated' parts, but it was just so difficult for me to piece together the story, that I was so disappointed when I finished. Did it feel like there was a whole lot of nothing going on? And no answers?

[Ana]

Tita wrote: "I liked parts of it, especially the 'translated' parts, but it was just so difficult for me to piece together the story, that I was so disappointed when I finished. Did it feel like there was a wh..."

I was dissatisfied with the ending too, even though I was convinced that the ride would end smoothly...

[Dylan]

Im nowhere near the end, but i just read the passage where Yankel finds the note from his wife. I just felt like commenting on how the author portrayed the feeling afterward, trying to lose the note but never being able to. I reaaaalllly liked that part.

[Sarah]

I'm enjoying the book so far, over half way. I enjoy more of the story that we learn about, over the Alex to Jonathan parts.

[Rebecca]

Dylan wrote: "Im nowhere near the end, but i just read the passage where Yankel finds the note from his wife. I just felt like commenting on how the author portrayed the feeling afterward, trying to lose the not..."

That's about where I am too. I also thought Yankel's not being able to "lose" the note was very moving.

[Danielle]

i already wrote a review on it, but in short: it was beyond horrible.

awful writing. pretentious is not even the word to describe this book. 2 thumbs DOWN

[Danielle]

Tara wrote: "Once upon a time I was a serious literature reader but I'm getting old and cranky now. It's not that I can't do symbolism and subtext (I used to read William Blake and Edith Sitwell for "pleasure")..."

i second that.

[Rebecca]

Soo...I've lost the book. This is probably a sign that this one wasn't for me. There were parts of it that were entertaining (as i previously mentioned) but it didn't make me want to keep reading. Now off to the library to pay the subsequent fine...

[Dylan]

I made it 100 pages in and had to stop. Each page felt like the author was trying to hard! The only chapters i enjoyed were the ones with Yankel and the rest were just irritating to read. Couldn't finish it, waste of my time/

[Kristy]

I agree with the comments about the author trying too hard. It is a shame, because without that I get the feeling that the book and story could be great. It is so distracting to read and wade through the self-grandisement that I find I am sometimes missung the real story. Still happy read on however and continue to give it a go.This is not what I would normally read - and that is the exact reason why I have joined this book club - to read things I would not normally read!

[Gorfo]

Yay for reading things you wouldn't normally read! I'm at like page 50. I'm going to stick with it but the author is definitely trying very hard and you also can't read in distracting environments because the text itself is so all over the place!

[A.B.]

This book was a slow start for me. I had to make myself keep picking it up and if not for the book club I probably wouldn't have.

I found the parts written by the interpreter as hilarious as claimed - at first. They got a bit old after chapter or two. I didn't much enjoy the "fable" type style which was used to tell most of the story or really the parts about Brod and stories of the shtetl.

I did find the parts outlining what happened with the Nazis in Trichembrod and Kolte both powerful and shatteringly heartbreaking. These stories made the book worth reading. The stories of the interpreter and his family were sad. Overall, it left me feeling depressed.

[Jill]

I must say it is alittle tiring!! I want to say, let's get it done already!! But I am hanging in!!

[Gorfo]

I'm writing a term paper about the Holocaust right now so this book is actually quite fitting! Isn't it weird when a book fits into your life so perfectly?