Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

By: Jonathan Safran Foer

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman, Barbara Caruso, Richard Ferrone

Jonathan Safran Foer's best-selling debut novel, Everything Is Illuminated, wowed critics on its way to winning several literary prizes, including Book of the Year honors from the Los Angeles Times. It has been published in 24 countries and will soon be a major motion picture. Foer's talent continues to shine in this sometimes hilarious and always heartfelt follow-up.

Nine-year-old Oskar Schell is a precocious Francophile who idolizes Stephen Hawking and plays the tambourine extremely well. He's also a boy struggling to come to terms with his father's death in the World Trade Center attacks. As he searches New York City for the lock that fits a mysterious key his father left behind, Oskar discovers much more than he could have imagined.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a masterfully imagined novel from an author Time hails as "a certified wunderkind".

©2005 Jonathan Safran Foer (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

• 2005 Audie Award Nominee, Multi-Voiced Performance

"Piercing and so funny." (The Bookseller)
"[Oskar's] first-person narration of his journey is arrestingly beautiful, and readers won't soon forget him." (Booklist)
"Jonathan Safran Foer's second novel is everything one hoped it would be: ambitious, pyrotechnic, riddling, and above all...extremely moving. An exceptional achievement." (Salman Rushdie)
"Brilliant....Unafraid to show his traumatized characters' constant groping for emotional catharsis, Foer demonstrates once again that he is one of the few contemporary writers willing to risk sentimentalism in order to address great questions of truth, love, and beauty." (Publishers Weekly)

Unique

I will not attempt to add to what so many other reviewers have so eloquently stated. The story of a boy who lost his father in the 911 attacks would seem to be a dreary one indeed. This is NOT the case.

I loved the voice of the writing as told from the perspective of a young, precocious, intrepid vulnerable boy. This book still gives me a warm feeling, months after having finished it.

I'm still not sure I liked this

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I kept waiting for something to happen

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Story didn't seem to move fast enough for me.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Not sure if it was his easy style that made the book a little on the boring side.

Favorite....

the author and his wife are gifted.. having them both talking about stories at the same time would be almost as good as this book.. i stared at the 9-11 falling man for awhile after hearing this story.. amazing. i cant wait for more from the author and his wife.. this book puts the extremely loud and the incredibly close in love.

Emotional

I love books and movies that can make you see things in a new way. JSF deftly twined a story around characters spanning a wide age range and very different backgrounds. I loved the grandmother's quiet strength and determination, the mother's attempt to cope and keep living, the grandfather's inability to cope and the little boys tender, wonderful memories of his father. That day impacted us all. This is a wonder glimpse into several lives out of many that shared in that tragedy. This book made me cry my eyes out, which is a little embarrassing while sitting in random places with earphones in.

Unusual story! Human, touching!

Would you try another book from Jonathan Safran Foer and/or the narrators?

Probably, although I found there were parts to the story that I just "didn't get" - there were also moments that were beautiful. The writing style is very different and when it's at it's best, completely engaging.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed it when the protagonist met the elderly gentleman while on his quest to find an object left behind by his Dad who was killed in 911. The man was so querky, sweet and unforgettable.

Could you see Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Unfortunately, that ship has sailed and I don't think it helped this story become any more popular - in fact, it probably did it an injustice.

Any additional comments?

Be patient through the difficult parts, so will make more sense in time -

incredible

every moment was precious. I've never heard such beautiful writing. it's hard to describe this, it is so unique. I will definitely listen to it again. it's a look at the inner world of three connected people, but mostly the wonderful boy Oscar, who thinks like no one you've ever heard. it's brilliant

Through a child eye

Adults just don't understand what goes on in a child mind after a catastrophic loss. The book held my interest most of the time.

Extremely good and incredibly endearing

Let me start by saying I have never seen the movie, but hear it is quite good - so I don't know how the 2 compare. I have had this book for quite a while and mostly bought it based on the Audible reviews. I did drag my feet reading it because part of the story revolves around 9-11 and I just didn't want to read a depressing book. The story is about a family and its history for generations, not just the 9-11 event (so don't let that stop you from reading it).The story starts from the perspective of a small boy, Oscar. I loved his voice or inner dialog. It reminded me of The Power of One (an all time favorite book of mine). The book then jumps around with different chapters being told through the voice of different characters. It was a bit confusing at first but it eventually all starts to pull together. I ended up actually loving this book. the book didn't depress me but it definitely gave my heart strings a good yank.

This was not as good as I had hoped

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I didn't love the narrators.

Would you be willing to try another book from Jonathan Safran Foer? Why or why not?

I loved "Everything is Illuminated" on audio book, so I would be willing to give this author another try.

Excellent

What made the experience of listening to Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close the most enjoyable?

Excellent voice work by all narrators. Except for the Grandma, who parts I never looked forward to.