Ryan Chartrand“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the national bestseller and second novel by author Jonathan Safran Foer, takes on a heavy task: describing the profound pain that comes from losing a loved one. Foer sets out to do this through the perspective of his main character, a grieving boy, coping with the recent death of his father in the attack on the World Trade Center.
Through the meticulous thought-process of a 9-year-old child, Foer masterfully portrays a kind of pain that applies to people of all ages. Although the premise of the book is the events of Sept. 11, the implications of the novel do not stop there. They go on to include all kinds of searches for finality and closure in the midst of great loss.
We first meet the protagonist Oskar Schell during the limousine ride to his father’s funeral. From the very beginning, the reader gets to know him as incredibly precocious, as well as understandably broken by the public and personal tragedy that he has endured.
It’s immediately obvious to the reader how tormented this young boy is; even though he is uncommonly bright, he is still unable to rationalize his horrible loss, and incapable of even beginning to come to peace with it.
His naturally curious spirit still alive, we find Oskar snooping in his parents’ closet the day after the funeral. The main plot of the book begins here, when he stumbles upon a key that belonged to his father.
Never having seen the key before and always ready for a treasure hunt, Oskar immediately sets out to find its corresponding lock. His journey takes him all throughout New York City, and ends up being more about finding closure than anything else.
Don’t be fooled by the simple premise of the story, however; The careful reader that will read between the lines of narrative and dialogue to find something deeper. During his eight-month journey, Oskar encounters numerous people who are dealing with deep pain themselves.
The glimpses we get of these characters widen the applicability of the book to more than just those directly affected by Sept. 11. We meet the woman going through a bitter divorce, the old man who hasn’t left his apartment in 30 years because of his extreme loneliness, and perhaps most importantly, Oskar’s grandmother, whose own story evolves into a riveting sub-plot, giving the reader a chance to put the pieces of the novel together to form an even more fulfilling story.
Foer’s writing style is at once relatable and unconventional; He uses tools uncommon to the novel genre to add to his writing. There are drawings and photographs sprinkled throughout the book, as well as varying font sizes and styles used to magnify different points.
However risky, these moves don’t in any way come across as overdone or exaggerated. In fact, nothing in the book seems faked or forced. Foer avoids the saccharine road that some stories with this subject matter have taken by keeping the book connected to a real, likeable character that the audience can’t help but sympathize with.
Some aspects of the book do require a little patience: Foer’s intertwining of two stories is beautifully done, but in such a way that the reader has to remember a high number of details and plot lines to understand exactly what is going on.
Also, since Oskar’s journey takes him all over the city, the story will make more sense to one who has an understanding of the geography of New York.
However, any energy exerted reading book is well worth the time and effort. As a storyteller, Foer is trustworthy; it’s evident from the beginning that he has command of where the novel is going, so, even when a little confused, the reader will have no problem letting go of convention.
An unusual, surprising and ultimately moving read, “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” takes its readers on a journey similar to that of its main character.
Through the heartaches and triumphs of Oskar Schell, Foer depicts humanity’s struggle to find peace amid the chaos of pain. Although quite different than what might be expected, this novel is sure to be found relatable and rewarding by all.
Emilie Egger is a history sophomore and Mustang Daily book reviewer.