Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer (K.D. & Lynai) Eavesdropper: Tricia, Start Date: September 3 (Monday); End Date: September 7 (Friday)

[Lynai]

With only a yellowing photograph in hand, a young man - also named Jonathan Safran Foer - sets out to find the woman who might or might not have saved his grandfather from the Nazis. Accompanied by an old man haunted by memories of the war, an amorous dog named Sammy Davis, Junior, Junior, and the unforgettable Alex, a young Ukrainian translator who speaks in a sublimely butchered English, Jonathan is led on a quixotic journey over a devastated landscape and into an unexpected past. As their adventure unfolds, Jonathan imagines the history of his grandfather's village, conjuring a magical fable of startling symmetries that unite generations across time. Lit by passion, fear, guilt, memory, and hope, the characters in Everything Is Illuminated mine the black holes of history. As the search moves back in time, the fantastical history moves forward, until reality collides with fiction in a heart-stopping scene of extraordinary power. An arresting blend of high comedy and great tragedy, this is a story about searching for people and places that no longer exist, for the hidden truths that haunt every family, and for the delicate but necessary tales that link past and future. Exuberant and wise, hysterically funny and deeply moving, EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED is an astonishing debut.

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us! :)

KD: What's our reading plan? I don't have the book with me this time. I'll check tonight when I get home. :)

[Lynai]

I browsed through the book tonight and saw that there are no chapter numbers. I counted, though, and there are 26 chapters, so I guess we can go 5 chapters a day, 6 chapters on the last day? We end in September 7?

[K.D.]

6 chapters is fine with me. Thanks, Lynai.

[Ella]

gusto ko sumali kaso kelangan ko pa bumili muna ng libro .. manunuyod muna ako ng booksale

[Lynai]

Carmela wrote: "gusto ko sumali kaso kelangan ko pa bumili muna ng libro .. manunuyod muna ako ng booksale"

May two weeks pa naman Carmela. Suyod lang ng suyod. :)

[K.D.]

Suyod parang may kuto! ha! ha!

[Ella]

K.D. wrote: "Suyod parang may kuto! ha! ha!"

hehehe me tinda akong suyod dito like nio ;) ?

[K.D.]

Like ko yang suyod. Noon sa probinsya, noong bata pa kami, may suyod sa bahay. Tapos pag nakita ko, ginagamit ko. Naglalagay ako ng papel. Dahil bata pa ako, minsan may lalagpak na kung anu-ano sa papel: may buhangin, may maliliit na bato, minsan may langgam, minsan may kung anu-ano. Pero ni minsan, wala akong nakitang kuto hehe.

[Ella]

hahaha ayus yan K.D. hanep sa trip.. ako nakaranas na masuyod ng nanay ko lam mo na kasi bata .. hala ayun isa isa nawawala sila at ang pinaka di ko malilimutan ung pagkagising ko nun hala may mga nakikita ako na itim sa unan ko *eewwww* .. yung mga namatay na dahil sa shampoo na para pamatay dun ;)

[Tricia]

How do you find the book? I like it but it's too Jewish for me :)

[Ella]

haven't got it yet :/ from booksale i mean hirap ako pag ebook masakit sa mata

[Tricia]

Try looking for it online. I got mine in an online shop in multiply :)

[K.D.]

Day 1 p. 8

Alex-stop-spleening me is the elder of the two sons of Alex 2. He has a grandfather who was survived by an unknown woman during the holocaust. So, Alex-stop-spleening-me will go and hunt for the woman.

This looking for or hunting somebody is also similar to the boy in JSF's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and also the girl looking for the author of the book in his girlfriend's (Nicole Krauss') The History of Love. Wala na ba silang naisip na iba namang plot? hehe.

But it seems like an easy read. I will continue tonight.

[K.D.]

Day 2 p. 20

I don't really understand what I am reading (Chapters 2 & 3) but I continue. Maybe it will be clearer in the next few pages. Or I should consult existing reviews heehee.

[Lynai]

Kuya Doni!!! I totally missed our reading schedule!!! I was out of town the entire weekend and came back only yesterday evening. I was so tired, I wasn't able to read a single page! I'll make up tonight! Sorry. What edition are you using by the way? Mine's with the pink cover, the font size is too small! URGH.

[K.D.]

Mine is this:


Okay lang. Nage-enjoy din ako sa "Tess."

[K.D.]

Day 3 p. 58

I made good progress last night after consulting some non-GR reviews. Naintindihan ko na yong mga chapters na may 1791 o kung ano pang years during that time. There are the years pala na buhay yong great-great-great-great-great (5 yan binilang ko) grandmother ni Jonathan Safran Foer na si Brod (tama ba?) at naroon sila sa shtetl (ginoo-gle ko pa ito). Town pala ito sa Ukraine kung saan maraming Jews prior to Nazi occupation.

And started to laugh and laugh while reading primarily because of Alex's bastardized English. Not grammatically wrong but he uses words by referring to the thesaurus hahaha! Aliw! Biglang parang gustong maging 5 stars ng librong ito!

Good morning, Lynai.

[Lynai]

Good morning, K.D.

I am starting the book only today. So far, I love the introductory chapter, I like how the narrator introduced himself. Very interesting, though I still have to look up what "spleening" means, haha!

[K.D.]

Tatawa ka ng tatawa, Lynai.

Huwag mong babasahin ito na may nakakarinig sa iyo. Kasi baka isipin sira na ulo mo!

[Lynai]

DAY 1. pp. 1-22

Chap. 1

I love how the narrator, Alexi-stop-spleening-me, introduced himself, his mother, his father, his grandfather, and the Clumsy One. The hilarious opening lines thoroughly captured my attention. I have a vague recollection of the movie which I saw in HBO which I thought was melancholic, and somehow I was surprised that the book exudes a comical aura.

Highlighted quote: "One day you will do things for me that you hate. That is what it means to be a family."

Chap. 2

Trachim B's wagon fell to the river and Alexi-stop-spleening-me's great-great-great-great-great grandmother was "discovered." The speculations of the shtetl's people regarding the incident were amusing and realistic.

This is the chapter which made me consult the dictionary many many times. I am getting acquainted with Jewish terms and traditions. Also, the names of the characters have become confusing.

Highlighted quote: "By now, almost all of the shtetl's three hundred-odd citizens had gathered to debate that about which they knew nothing. The less a citizen knew, the more adamantly he or she argued. There was nothing new in this."

Chap. 3

The Uprighters and Slouchers were introduced. Funny how the division came to be. Also, the baby found during the incident was kept by the Rabbi and a lottery was done for the lucky father-to-be.

I am tempted to go on reading, but alas, work beckons. I don't know, K.D., whether I'll be able to follow the schedule which I also set, haha. Nothing new, right? Hahaha. But I am determined to finish this book this month no matter what. :)

[Lynai]

Don't you think it's a little egoistic for Jonathan Safran Foer to also name the main character of his book after his own name? ;)

[K.D.]

Eh kasi, thesis yata nya itong pagpunta sa hometown ng ninuno nya. Tapos naging libro lang. So, talagang character sya sa kuwento.

[K.D.]

Kokonti pa pala ang nakakabasa nito? Eh ang ganda!

Si Emir at Tricia pa lang ang naretain sa mind ko. Pero pag pinaguusapan ito sa group, parang ang dami nang nakabasa at naiwan na ako hehe.

Si Aldrin, Beejay, Cary, marked to read pa lang.

Pati si Angus, H, Veronica at Jzhun, wala pa. Feeling ko dati nabasa na nila. Bakit ko ba naging feeling? Ah, pag napaguusapan si Jonathan Safran Foer at si Nicole Krauss (asawa nya).

[Lynai]

Huwat??? Married na pala si Mr. Foer??? Okay, research nga muna ako.

[K.D.]

Married na sya. Writer din. Sumulat ng The History of Love. So, style nilang dalawa halos pareho hehe.

Pero noong sinulat yata niya ito (first novel ni JSF) eh single pa lang sya. Guapo!

[Lynai]

I know! I had a momentary crush until I knew he's already married! Parang si Alex Garland lang dati na crush ko din sa The Beach. Mr. Foer is so young! Na curious tuloy ako sa The History of Love. May kopya kaya nito sa Booksale?

[K.D.]

25 sya noong sinulat ito. First novel nya. Cute din naman si Nicole Krauss. Bagay lang sila.

[Tricia]

Oh Lynai! I recommend History of Love :) I super love that book <3

Actually, nakakaconfuse tong book nung una but I really appreciated the ending (and the humor). Medyo matagal ko nang nabasa to kaya di ko masyadong matandaan haha

[K.D.]

Day 4 86

The trip to Trimbolchi goes on. I always enjoy that arc. The other arch, that of 1791-1943 that is being reconstructed by Jonathan Safran Foer is interesting but sad to say, boring or is it because it is being eclipsed by the the other arc?

I just hope that Alex's antics will hold my attention till the end. Kasi yong mga patawa, may hangganan yan. OA na pag tumagal.

Tricia, tama ka. Yong arc na flashback, medyo naguluhan ako sa Chs 2 & 3. Pero noong mag-google ako ng "slelth" haha. Naintindihan ko. Itong word na ito, parang kae-explain lang kagabi habang binabasa ko. Eh, parang 1st day dapat nag-effort na si JSF na mag-explain sana haha. Sayang ang google time ko heehee.

[Tricia]

Pansin ko kay JSF at Krauss, mahilig sila sa style ng subnarrative (kung subnarrative ang tawag dun) or dual narrative? haha

[K.D.]

Tricia, oo. I agree.

Tsaka yong mga nawawalang hinahanap na anik-anik na istorya.

History of Love - hinahanap yong totoong author
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - hinahanap yong pintong gagamitan ng susi
tapos ito:
Everything is Illuminated - hinahanap si Augustine

Tapos yong maraming storylines (arcs) na magtatagpo sa dulo. Ewan. Style nila cute. Pero nakakasawa. Naguusap yata sila na yong ang kanilang style hahaha.

[Lynai]

Ma-hunting nga yang History of Love na yan! :D

[K.D.]

Day 5: p. 96

I am now in that part when the grandmother was raped. The year is 1969. I always look forward to Alex episodes. Mabigat yong seryosong storyline ng lola. Kaya di ako nakausad masyado kagabi heehee.

[Ella]

I wasn't able to read at all. :(( Naging hectic ang linggo ko *haaay*

[Lynai]

Day 2: p. 23 (WAAAAHHH!)

Okay, so I only managed to resume reading today. I am in the part where Alexi-stop-spleening-me writes his first letter to Jonathan. I have to do some back-reading in order to understand what the letter is about and its purpose. Little by little,I think I get it.

Sumusulat pala si Alexander kay Jonathan regarding the translating job he is doing for the latter. The events that happened in 1791 are the events that happened to Jonathan and not to Alexander which I first thought. Sigh, very confusing.

Will try to read more tonight. Pleas bear with my slothful pace, K.D. This week has been busy but my schedule is more okay next week, so I guess I can go faster.

[Lynai]

ELLA: (Are you Carmela before? Haha) You can still catch up if you want. Nasa page 23 pa lang naman ako. Si K.D. talagang mabilis magbasa and he keeps up with the set reading pace *salutes*. ;)

[K.D.]

Day 6 (night) p. 118

While waiting for my telecon and after working out, nagtambay ako sa lounge. Ayon naka-abante. Pero nahihirapan din akong intindihin. I think nasa style nya. Yong may all caps doon sa flashback na narratives na kino-construct ni Jonathan. Parang di ako interesado. Sabi ko na lang, matatawa ako pagandyan na naman si Alex.

Kaso kanina, ewan ko. Parang nagsasawa na ako sa mga antics ni Alex, Sammy Davis Junior Junior, at yong lolo. Parang ano ba yan, paulit-ulit.

Siguro, mamaya. Matutulog muna ako then paggising ko, nawala na ang Friday madness (fatigue) ko hehe.

Spleen me! --> whatever spleen means di ko alam haha

[Lynai]

Kailangan yata natin ng thesaurus everytime we read this. Parang nauumay na din ako sa words that Foer uses. Parang OA na sa effort to be different in style? I don't know, baka may Friday madness rin ako. Hahaha.

spleen = an organ located in the abdomen hahaha. I wonder how you can convert it into a verb. Stop spleening me! :D

[K.D.]

Oo nga, Lynai. May time na natuwa ako. Ngayon hindi na. Pagod lang siguro.

[Tricia]

Actually, creative naman talaga yung style nila pero nakakasawa nga. Kakabasa ko lang nung Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and di ko masyadong nagustuhan kasi it parang ang nasa isip ko, 'ano ba yan, parang Everything is Illuminated at History of Love' and I fail to appreciate the book hehe

Hopefully, Eating Animals by JSF don't have the same narrative style (kasi non-fiction yata siya).

[K.D.]

Tricia, we are the same after all. I continued reading this book last night after sleeping a bit and it did not improve the dislike that is now beginning to develop for this book heehee. Bolano (2666) is now becoming better. I am in the last chapter. I thought I would finish this "Everything is Illuminated" today but maybe not.

Day 7 p. 122

Kolker loves Brod, the great-great-great-great-great Grandmother of Jonathan. They got married but Brod loves somebody else. There is a guy named Safran (I think this might be where JSF got his middle name) and the narrator (can't be JSF) refers to him as his father. I am not sure who this narrator is. I am confused.

[Tricia]

I wonder what are your ratings? 4 stars yata to sakin since it was my first Foer book (kaya naappreciate ko pa ang style and humor).

Naghalo-halo na yung story arcs kaya nakakalito. Just the same, present is connecting to past hehe

[K.D.]

Oo nga. Pero siguro, tama ka, in the end, magkikita-kita rin ang mga arcs na yan. :) Itutuloy ko. Halfway na ako eh. Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga.

[K.D.]

Day 8 p. 154

Bumawi ang pagkagusto ko sa libro. Na-touch ako doon sa pagkamatay ng (view spoiler)[asawa ni Brod (hide spoiler)] na pinangalanan pala ni Brod na "Safran" para sana makaligtas. Parang may ganoon ngang culture na nabasa ko dati. Kapag may kamalasan, iniiba ang pangalan heehee.

Magpalit kaya ako ng pangalan? haha

[K.D.]

Day 9 am p. 200

Looks like there are 3 arcs now. The present day, when Alex is writing to Jonathan reacting to his novel. The novel is the second arc - what happened many years ago in Trachimbold. Then there is the third arc - what happened few years ago when they went to Trachimbold hunting for Augustine.

It is only yesterday when I figured this out. Nakakalito talaga sya eh.

[K.D.]

Day 9 pm p. 267

Last 8 pages and I am done. IT IS BEAUTIFUL. It almost made me cry.

It's running for either 4 or 5 stars. There is nothing like it overall. But there are similar novels to it if you take portions of it.

The realization of having 3 story arcs meeting each other in the end is an important tip. It's only late in the game when I realized this and I thought it would have helped me focus on the dialogues or the events when I was on the first part. So, there is the urge to reread but I don't think I have time for that at this point.

I will not post specifics here because you are still reading and I am so ahead (but still late based on our agreed schedule). But trust me that this is a beautiful work. It seemed that Jonathan Safran Foer put all his efforts to make a debut in the American literary world. Opps, not just in the American market but the world as well. Parang sabi nya, kakayanin kong mapansin. Gagawin kong lahat para lumusot ito. Parang sobrang ginawa nyang pulido at ibinuhos lahat nang napag-aralan nya sa creative writing class. Ganoon ka-grabe ang ganda ng book na ito. Kakaiba. Galing. Sobra!

I will review the book tomorrow morning because for sure I will be done reading tonight. Naka-abante ako sobra from 5-7pm while waiting for my telecon with the US folks. In fact, nasa telecon ako habang tina-type ang comment na ito.

Good evening everyone! And this early, Lynai, thanks for prodding me to join you in reading this wonderful book. I loved it!

[Lynai]

Sabi ko na nga ba, mahuhuli na naman akong tapusin ito. But thanks for your patience as well K.D. I am learning to love the book too, and yes, I KNOW that it will be a beautiful book because I saw the last part of the movie on HBO a few months back. Sana, sana, matapos ko na din ito this week.

I hope you won't spleen me for "abandoning" our reading buddy schedule. ;)

[Ella]

Lynai wrote: "ELLA: (Are you Carmela before? Haha) You can still catch up if you want. Nasa page 23 pa lang naman ako. Si K.D. talagang mabilis magbasa and he keeps up with the set reading pace *salutes*. ;)"

yep Carmela first name ko pina ikli ko na lang.. di din ako nakapagbasa .. madami din ako ginawa.. sayang nga e haay :(( need ko makabawi

[K.D.]

Lynai, OMG! This has been shown on HBO! I'd like to catch one! Whoa! I should open our TV once in a while. hehe. Of course, I will not spleen you my dear. You sweet pretty lady.

Ella, aha, so you have a longer name. So, what is it? Maria Carmela? Nice one, sounds like a Mexican name.

[Lynai]

Malapit ko nang matapos ang book. Ounce by ounce, I am beginning to be illuminated with the three story arcs. I estimate that I am beginning to desire the way Alexi-stop-spleening-me inks his thoughts. The incidents are becoming sad but still in a humorous way. I will conclude this tomorrow if not tonight.