Joint Discussion: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Happy April everyone! This month Blodeuedd and I read and discussed "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close".  Blodeuedd is in red and I am in purple. 

Author: Jonathan Safran Foer 
Title: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Genre: Fiction
Pages: ebook
First Published: April 2005
Where I Got It: My shelf (Bought on Amazon)



Nine-year-old Oskar Schell is an inventor, amateur entomologist, Francophile, letter writer, pacifist, natural historian, percussionist, romantic, Great Explorer, jeweller, detective, vegan, and collector of butterflies. When his father is killed in the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Centre, Oskar sets out to solve the mystery of a key he discovers in his father's closet. It is a search which leads him into the lives of strangers, through the five boroughs of New York, into history, to the bombings of Dresden and Hiroshima, and on an inward journey which brings him ever closer to some kind of peace.

So this was Carole’s book but I chose it, and damn, it felt like we could have lots to talk about and love it. But I am bad at choosing (in my own opinion.) I get one good book a year, and as this is the last book for some time for us, I would have wanted to go out with THE BEST BOOK EVER. Ha, not gonna happen. To me it was a disappointment in the end. How did it go for you?

I am very bummed by this book. I LOVED LOVED LOVED THE MOVIE, so I expected the book to be the same and/or better. But nope...not the case.

I have not seen the movie so I can not have an opinion, but it has to be better than this so I believe you.

Maybe one day I can force you to watch it ;D. But the book? Meh. The beginning and ending were good, but the middle...no. I think this would’ve worked better as a short story to be honest.

Yes! Cos I did ...well, sort of like it at the beginning. The rambling, and I understood what he tried to create, but then omg, I got sooo annoyed. It was too much. He was trying too hard, even if it was not a long book it felt way too long.

The rambling was what did it in for me. Yes, the kid is a wiz and smart and 9 - 10. So he is bound to NOT be a writing genius. However, there needs to be a balance. Also, I don’t care how smart a kid is...they are not THAT smart and that perceptive of the world.

It felt like I had no time to breathe. Everything was a mess. The words kept coming at you. Oh and yes however smart he is, come on, his mum just let him do that. I do not care if he had bodyguards with him (which he had not), but his mum should still not have let him out even if he had had that. It was just crazy. A kid walking around NYC for 3 hours to get somewhere and then having to get back.

The mom was a crap parent in my opinion. I even thought that in the movie. I get she’s going through her grieving too, but yeah. And I get she took SOME precautions, but still...maybe give him a drive or something. NYC is not a place for a little kid to be alone roaming about. I grew up in the country and even my mom wouldn’t let me do anything alone, I’d have to go with an adult or a group of other kids. The mom was an idiot in this book.

At that age I would totally have been allowed to go places, little village. Nothing dangerous there. But this was like her sending me alone on the train to our capital, hell no. And our capital is TINY. I do not care how much she is grieving, that kid could have died.

Yessss. So negative points to her. Now...what did you think about the “big twist” with the old dude?

Considering that we never even met him before the twist was revealed, well yes I did not expect it, but it was also kind of anticlimactic. I was all whatever when I learned it, I wish they had shown him before.

Agreed. It was a cool twist, but it could’ve been done better. They did it differently in the movie and it worked WAY better. Another point to the movie. LOL

I do not know how it was done, but I can guess cos I would know a better one. Eh.

I will not spoil it  for you ;) But yes, you’d appreciate it more.

How did you like the flashbacks to the grandparents then?

It was okay..but I felt it took away from the kid’s story which is the main story. Maybe not having that would’ve slimmed down the story and made it easier to read.

I did feel it was unnecessary, who cares if his grandparents met during the war and then came here. Were strange and the kid obvi inherited that from his grandfather. I did not care for it at all. It was the kid’s story, not how his grandparents weren’t always happy...were they ever happy? So...that should have been left out.

Maybe it was a weird foreshadow to the kid’s future. He is going to be a disappointment to his wife and son...and then his son is going to die and he’ll finally come to his senses and come back. LOL. Maybe there is a sequel in the works. I hope not.

You are being really depressing now. What a fun future to look forward too.

Hehehe. But yes...sad bleak book in many ways. I did cry twice...in a way...i wish the story followed the Dad and his journey. I liked him a lot.

His dad’s journey would have been good and omg then I would have CRIED at the end. Now I was not moved at all, and I am pregnant. I cried at the store today when something went wrong.

Hahaha. My tears were because I remembered certain scenes from the movie. TOM HANKS NOOOOOO! *sobs*

Damn it, I wanna see this movie now….is it old? Might be hard to get then. Never seen it on tv either.

It is old-ish. It used to be on Netflix...IDK if it is anymore.hmmmmm. BTW - what did you think about the photos included? I liked them. The last pictures made me tear-eye because I remember that photo and the videos from the actual event. ;(

I did not have any! Omg, I missed out :/

Really??? I feel like it added some sort of clarity to the mad ramblings of the crazy 9 year and the insane grandfather. D:

Damn it. Oh well, you still did not enjoy the book as much as you wanted so I am sure it would have made it better- Maybe it would have stopped some skimming.

It still was not book of the year, but I liked it a hair more than you...only a hair. I think I gave it the same star rating as you though on Goodreads. LOL

And that was me being nice! I could appreciate what he tried to go, but for me it failed big time.

I have to agree. I see what he wanted but it was a bust. Folks...MOVIE was better. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth saying that, but gotta give credit where credit is due.

It is sad when a movie is better but it happens. I do not want to name names, but there are some big ones in there.

For sure! Anything else you can think of?

I was disappointed. I expected a heated debate from this one and it failed to live up to that.

I am bummed.

The end then :/

The sad, sad bitter end. Booo!!!!

About the Authors

Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging a long while now. The last couple of years the epic duo have been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.

Movie Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Length: 2 hours & 9 mins
Released: 2012
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG-13
Where I Got It: Netflix

SUMMARY:
Oskar is convinced that his father, who died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, has left a final message for him hidden somewhere in the city. Feeling disconnected from his grieving mother and driven by a relentlessly active mind that refuses to believe in things that can't be observed, Oskar begins searching New York City for the lock that fits a mysterious key he found in his father's closet. His journey through the five boroughs takes him beyond his own loss to a greater understanding of the observable world around him.


TRAILER:

REVIEW:

This movie was my first movie about 9/11. I remember watching the towers crumbling down and no matter how much time passes by, it still makes me tear up. I honestly lost my innocence about the world that day. How could people hurt and kill innocent people like that? The world is a cruel place and I learned it that day. I was a little bit younger then Oskar was, so I can relate to the confusion. Sadly, though, he lost his Dad. He is tortured by the voicemails left by his father on the voicemachine (he stole it and listens to it everyday). He then finds a key and to help remove his grief and guilt of not picking up the phone, he begins an adventure to find what the key opens.

Along the way he comes across many different people who aid him on his adventure. Not only do they help him, but he helps so many people along the way. It was really touching even tho even was a bitter little boy. He seriously needed to take care of that potty-mouth of his. I get that he is acting out a lot (he lost his dad and his mother became disconnected), but still. I partially blame the mother. She was so lost in her own grief, that she pretty much ignored Oskar and became disconnected with the world. I totally get that she lost the love of her life, but you have a child that needs you. She does make it up near the end, but I cannot say why or how, but it made me smile. 

I really liked this movie, but I am having a hard time getting myself to read the book. It is sad. I heard and read that the book is sad and has more details (which is common in books). The book is waaaay better, I have heard, so someday I plan on reading this. This movie was the first piece of entertainment that I have experienced that is about 9/11. I've avoided it for many reasons....but the main one is that I know I will cry. Especially when they have scenes/parts where the family member actually calls their loved ones to say goodbye. That *sniffs* always gets to me. 

I totally recommend this movie if you don't mind feeling feelings. It really does touch the soul, especially those who were alive (and can actually remember) 9/11 happening. Soo tragic. This movie isn't "about 9/11", but around a boy who lost his father and is trying to hold onto him and get over his grief. It's really good. The boy has an attitude problem and a swearing problem, but that is common with boys that age, who have experienced a horrible life event. Out of five stars, I stamp this one with....5. It's more like 4.5, but I rounded. 

Favorite Character(s): The Dad (but I may be biased, bc I adore Tom Hanks), Oskar, & the grandmother
Not-so Favorite Character(s): The mother (she makes up for it later in the film, but still....)
Re-watch?: Yeah, I prolly would