Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Crazy Summer Reads

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close centers around nine-year-old Oskar Schell's attempt to deal with the grief surrounding his father's death in the World Trade Center the morning of September 11. Oskar always bonded with his father over puzzles. So when he finds a mysterious key in his father's closet, he believes it is just a sign that there is one more puzzle his father left him to solve. His journey takes him all over New York City and introduces him to people all over who are surviving day-to-day life just like him. 

When I started this book, I struggled to make sense of it. With very little build up, we are introduced to Oskar as he rides in a limo to his father's funeral. Oskar was difficult to follow at first. His ramblings are disjointed and jumbled, often being tied down by his fears. His thoughts are also muddled by the facts he hunts and devours like it is his lifeline. These facts are often uncomfortable for him, but they occupy his mind, something he finds himself needing constantly. After a while, this way of storytelling becomes second nature though. 

This book also leads us through the life and thoughts of Oskar's grandmother and grandfather, and how loss has touched their lives. Their lives have been a constant in and out of misunderstanding, miscommunication, and tragedy that only continues after the death of Oskar's father.  I found the stories poignant and touching, although it was occasionally a bit frustrating. The different methods of storytelling between the three narrators was compelling and added a complex level to the story. I found that the story created many mini-mysteries as it went on that were solved in unexpected ways as the book begins to wind down.