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A review by davidjordan
Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer
5.0
Really exceptional novel with some of the best dialogue I've ever seen on the written page. Foer is a master of character conversation on par with a fine playwright. These characters are especially insightful when it comes to understanding how their own brokenness contributes to the challenging situations in which they find themselves, particularly when a surprisingly large crisis occurs midway through the book.
I was most impressed with the powerful theological wisdom on display from what are essentially atheistic characters. This passage, spoken by a young boy at his bar mitzvah, is an excellent example: "Jacob wrestled with God for the blessing. He wrestled with Esau for the blessing. He wrestled with Isaac for the blessing, with Laban for the blessing, and in each case he eventually prevailed. He wrestled because he recognized that the blessings were worth the struggle. He knew that you only get to keep what you refuse to let go of."
I will be thinking about this fine novel for a while. This one will definitely stick with me.
I was most impressed with the powerful theological wisdom on display from what are essentially atheistic characters. This passage, spoken by a young boy at his bar mitzvah, is an excellent example: "Jacob wrestled with God for the blessing. He wrestled with Esau for the blessing. He wrestled with Isaac for the blessing, with Laban for the blessing, and in each case he eventually prevailed. He wrestled because he recognized that the blessings were worth the struggle. He knew that you only get to keep what you refuse to let go of."
I will be thinking about this fine novel for a while. This one will definitely stick with me.