Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Oskar is a highly intelligent 9-year old boy. Despite his intelligence that gives him a better understanding of the physical and historical aspects of the world, Oskar retains the emotions, confusion, and exasperation of a 9-year old. Oskar lost his father in the 9/11 attack. Oskar carries a secret he hasn't shared with anybody else. He was sent home from school soon after the attacks on 9/11 and was the first one home. There he found five messages from his father calling from one of the World Trade Towers on the answering machine, and he replaced the phone and kept the messages to himself. He finds a key in a vase when searching through his father's closet. This key sets Oskar off on a quest to find the story behind it, to find the secret that his father kept, in hopes that it would help him understand his dad better.
The story is one of loss and trying to understand loss.  The story of Oskar's grandparents runs parallel showing that loss and heartache is ever-present and for many not understandable.
I found the novel a chore to read.  I do not like the author's style of dialog where there is no line break between speakers. I think the story would have been stronger if kept to Oskar's actions.  He is a likable, real character and the grandparent's story cluttered his narrative.



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