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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
This book didn't capture me from the start - I found the first 80ish pages a bit boring and I didn't understand where it was going with stories from different generations, at different times in history.
I am, however, glad I kept reading. The stories do come together in a somewhat unexpected way, and the big black hole that is created in the first half of the book, the influence of WWII on the lives of certain people, is eventually revealed.
What also happened about 80-100 pages in was that I got used to, and thereby less annoyed by, the writing style of Alex. At times, I felt like the book was making fun of weird European accents in English, which tends to sting a bit. However, the hero and Alex get to know each other better, Alex' English improves, and I got less annoyed over the course of the book.
I am, however, glad I kept reading. The stories do come together in a somewhat unexpected way, and the big black hole that is created in the first half of the book, the influence of WWII on the lives of certain people, is eventually revealed.
What also happened about 80-100 pages in was that I got used to, and thereby less annoyed by, the writing style of Alex. At times, I felt like the book was making fun of weird European accents in English, which tends to sting a bit. However, the hero and Alex get to know each other better, Alex' English improves, and I got less annoyed over the course of the book.
Great book, although slightly confusing at time. Not a book that you could read lightly!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“The only thing more painful than being an active forgetter is to be an inert rememberer.”
Second time's the charm, at least for me and this novel.
I gave it the first go last year, after picking it up at a local bookstore, and ended up dropping it after a few chapters.
Although I was quite intrigued by the plot, there was something in its exposition that I found hard to receive.
After watching, and loving the movie last week, I have to admit to thinking that once again a Jonathan Safran Foer had been better adapted into a movie.
Nonetheless, I wanted to actually see it for myself, and I was really surprised to read a completely different book:
Aside from the obvious differences (as the letter-like format between the protagonist, and the addition of the story on the history of the village), the plot finds a completely different purpose, that I actually found more interesting than the one the movie decided to stick to:
Although I loved the plot twist of the grandpa actually being a Jew himself, I can’t help to prefer the much more intricate reality described by the book: a simple man, deciding to embark in a journey that he knows very well will bring back the ghosts of his past.
The guilt over the betrayal towards who he considered to be his best friend is a perspective that is rarely addressed, and (despite the more confused parts of the narration) the author still manages to convey perfectly its significance through the desperate letters of the niece, Alex, with his continues pleads to Jonathan, asking him to not consider his grandfather a bad man because of his actions.
This being sad, although I really loved the movie, I think the book is so much more than it’s made out to be.
Second time's the charm, at least for me and this novel.
I gave it the first go last year, after picking it up at a local bookstore, and ended up dropping it after a few chapters.
Although I was quite intrigued by the plot, there was something in its exposition that I found hard to receive.
After watching, and loving the movie last week, I have to admit to thinking that once again a Jonathan Safran Foer had been better adapted into a movie.
Nonetheless, I wanted to actually see it for myself, and I was really surprised to read a completely different book:
Aside from the obvious differences (as the letter-like format between the protagonist, and the addition of the story on the history of the village), the plot finds a completely different purpose, that I actually found more interesting than the one the movie decided to stick to:
Although I loved the plot twist of the grandpa actually being a Jew himself, I can’t help to prefer the much more intricate reality described by the book: a simple man, deciding to embark in a journey that he knows very well will bring back the ghosts of his past.
The guilt over the betrayal towards who he considered to be his best friend is a perspective that is rarely addressed, and (despite the more confused parts of the narration) the author still manages to convey perfectly its significance through the desperate letters of the niece, Alex, with his continues pleads to Jonathan, asking him to not consider his grandfather a bad man because of his actions.
This being sad, although I really loved the movie, I think the book is so much more than it’s made out to be.
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Read my review of this lovely novel on my Wordpress:
http://waystomakeyousee.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/everything-is-illuminated-especially-in-france/
http://waystomakeyousee.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/everything-is-illuminated-especially-in-france/