Book Review

Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, is the wonderfully random and unexpected, heartwarming journey of a young boy who lost his father in the tragic events of September 11, 2001. This novel, published by Mariner Books, is Foer's second novel. The book is in itself an experience.
This remarkable piece of work dives into Oskar Schell's (the 8-year-old main character) unique family dynamics, as they each learn to deal with the tragedy of Thomas Schell's death in the 9/11 attacks in New York City. Oskar embarks on what he believes is a scavenger hunt set up for him by his father and ends up taking him on a journey where he meets and befriends many people including a 102-year-old man who accompanies him on part of his journey. Through it all he expects to find something wonderful left to him by his father and ends up finding a path to healing, for himself as well as those he meets along the way.
Foer breaks all the rules in this novel, with no real structure and very little punctuation, he creates a very enjoyably intense read. I recommend this book for anyone that has ever unexpectedly or tragically lost a loved one. The journey that Oskar takes, explores the stages of grief but also provides the reader with a realistic ending that does not put a pretty bow on the story.
September 11 was a tragedy felt by the entire country and even the world, but for Oskar Schell it was incredibly personal and for his family it opened wounds in the face of trying to heal old ones. This is a fine example of how this type of event effects people emotionally and the way it is written provides the reader with strong emotions.