Book Review: Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is the heartwarming story of a young boy's search for peace two years after his father dies in the World Trade Center Towers during the September 11th attacks. When he was alive, Oskar's father Thomas would send Oskar on elaborate treasure hunts. In dying, he left one last treasure hunt for his son which Oskar is incorrigible in his efforts to complete.

Oskar Schnell is a remarkable boy. He's the odd intelligent kid who explores the world, asks lots of questions, and has more adult friends then friends his own age. While life can be tough for any 9-year old, Oskar has the added burden of losing his dad in the September 11th attacks. He can't stop searching for answers, so when he goes through his dad's possessions and finds a key in an envelope labeled "Black", he makes it his mission to search out every person named "Black" in New York City to find the lock to this key. His adventure takes him to amazing new discoveries, introduces him to many interesting characters, and helps his grow. His mission gives him a reassuring purpose.

Juxtaposed against Oskar's mission is the story of his grandmother and grandfather, Thomas's parents. Oskar is very close to his grandmother. Even though she has many strange habits and is extremely lonely, she loves Oskar fiercely. Her relationship with Oskar's grandfather was complicated and torrid, and is related slowly over the course of the book through excerpts from letters, pages from diaries, and direct narrative. The stories prove to be entwining tales of intense love and longing.

The book uses mixed media to better convey Oskar and his grandfather's world. Many pictures document what Oskar sees and how he feels, and oddly-printed pages of text convey the intensity of his grandfather's words. Oskar's world is a very vivid, intense, visual one, while his grandfather's story is withdrawn and reclusive.

On the whole, this book is a fun read. It's hard to not get sucked into Oskar's funny and whimsical narrative. The tone starts almost upbeat, but then levels off through various stages of depression and frustration as Oskar's trip has its ups and downs. The grandfather and grandmother's storyline may seem a little too melancholy, but if you keep following it you understand more about Oskar's grandmother, a bit about Thomas, and a lot about Oskar's relationship with his grandmother.