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Massive Problem with Disappearance of Mr Black
Jason Jason Nov 22, 2011 07:30AM
If there's one thing I can't wrap my head around, it's the timing surrounding the disappearance of Oskar's friend Mr. Black. Although it doesn't weigh heavily on the plot of the novel, small details like this bother me. On p. 285, the first sentence reads, "The day after the renter and I dug up Dad's grave, I went to Mr. Black's apartment." We know that when Oskar does go to Mr. Black's apartment, he retrieves a biograph card from Mr. Black's index. We also know that he was wearing this biograph card on his person during his meeting with William Black (a different Black) later that day (p. 295). How, then, is it possible that directly before the grave digging operation, Oskar is able to relate to his grandfather (the "renter") the details of what he learned in his meeting with William Black (p. 302) if the grave digging operation itself were supposed to have happened the day before retrieving the biograph card??

My full review below:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...



Zulfiya (last edited Jan 04, 2012 11:19AM ) Jan 04, 2012 11:19AM   2 votes
He just stepped down because he was a grand-father figure for the boy. As soon as he perceived that the real grandfather is somewhere there, he just understood that his mission was accomplished (or that was Foer's intention) and allowed Oskar to find his way to his grandfather. IMHO.


Yes - I see what you mean. I've read it through again a couple of times & the sequencing does seem to be out unless I'm missing something. It would make sense if the sentence on p285 read, "The day after the renter and I decided to dig up Dad's grave, I went to Mr. Black's apartment."
I hadn't spotted it myself & I think you're right it's not a major concern.


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