"Everything is Illuminated" and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" are his two novels. They are both wonderful. I have never had a piece of writing affect me as much as both of his novels do. His writing is so full of human emotions, but he combines them incredibly well with humor. Everything is Illuminated is out in paperback, and I suggest you read it before the film comes out in August. You won't be disappointed.

Yeah. This guy. Honestly.

I began with Extremely Loud, and I hate saying stuff like this but I think it's the best thing I've ever read. He turns me inside-out. Even his rants are exercises in theoretical control.

And the humor is SO crazy and abstract but completely relatable! I mentioned in MrLittleJean's thread that I bought this book because of the first paragraph. I did. And when I walked out of the store, and got in the car, I continued a bit, and they were so happy they let me stop to get the book for my plane ride.

(Little did they know that I went on to BLUBBER on the first segment of my trip. And things only went crazier after that.)

The hearing aid. I still think of that sometimes, when I find myself changing the channel or radio station from a show, movie or song to powerful with memory. It's something I can't stand. I think of that hearing aid. It's how I read that part.

And then I start saying everything like this!
No matter what it is!
Because I should appear to take delight in my experiences!
Even though I dwell because they're so painful!
And now I only hear my own thoughts!

I seriously can't think of anything more careful with and considerate of people who are typically pitied by those who are exponentially more disconnected from human suffering by choice or by a stroke of luck. He doesn't send them into pitiland, he lets them explain the best they can.

It's a thing of beauty.

I'm gonna get Illuminated as soon as I have the chance. For sure.

<!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://wip.warnerbros.com/index.html?site=everythingisilluminated">Everything is Illuminated</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> has been made into a film starring Elijah Wood. <p><!--EZCODE HR START--><hr /><!--EZCODE HR END-->You don't have scurvy. Only pirates get scurvy.<!--EZCODE BR START-->
<!--EZCODE BR END-->Pirates and me! Wait... write that down, that's a good movie title.</p>Edited by: Bert Fischer at: 7/6/05 2:24 pm

Yes, Bert, I've gotta hurry up. I'm the girl who loses all patience with the novel if I've already seen the movie. Sucks for me.

For those who've read Loud & Close (<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>so</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> like me to omit the adverbs, eh?), wasn't that a nice letter from the scientist?

I'm trying not to spoil.

I was so thrilled to read that part. I think I read it six times. Might as well have been a love letter.

<p><!--EZCODE HR START--><hr /><!--EZCODE HR END--> <!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:navy;font-family:times new roman;font-size:x-small;">"And that's the whole idea of the film: it's a fake documentary; it's about fake secrecy. It's really important to me that it's all transparent, all totally coy. It's about what happens when you keep secrets, because they're transparent anyhow. Things will come out one way or another, and just because they come out doesn't mean they are true." - Jennifer Montgomery</span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></p>

I saw a trailer for Everything Is Illuminated tonight. I was singing by the end of it. It looks really, really well done from what I can see.

Liev Schreiber directed it! I did not know that!

Ugh, I'm gonna cry my face off on August 26th. I just know it. The sound and pictures just got me all excited to see it. If it's not a good movie, they sure put together a great trailer.

<p><!--EZCODE HR START--><hr /><!--EZCODE HR END--> I wish I had a million dollars ... HOT daaaawg!</p>

I finished Extremely Loud and Incredibly close about a month ago, and I haven't been able to read anything else because I am still blown away by how amazing Foer writes. I have found every short story he has written, and even bought a copy of the Paris Review from 2002 that had "About the Typefaces Not Used in this Edition" in it. Everything this guy does is beautiful.

However...I am quite nervous about the film adaptation. There is something about Foer's writing that I just don't think will transfer to film. He has such an amazing ability to feel human emotion that I think is only wholly captured in words.

Anyways...where did you see the trailer? Despite my reservations I would still like to see it.

It was the first trailer ahead of Broken Flowers.

Jax and me (grapping each other's nearest forearm):

GASP! and then 8o and then :\

They included the scene where he explains that he's a vegetarian. And the seeing eye bitch. (Don't ask, just read it!) The dialogued excerpts selected for the trailer were obviously supposed to draw an audience with a love for oldness, family history, fish-outta-water situations, and humor sparked by equally ingnorant parties. They were appealing scenes. Moreover, it looked beautiful, felt just this side of empty, really a nice visual translation of being comfortable in new surroundings. I think he might have given us a good film, feels pretty right so far. BUT.

I know what you mean about the ethereal element to his writing, and I seriously seriously have learned not to expect that in a film. If Schreiber is successful with his attempts to include it, it probably won't come from the characters - it'll be in the air, the music, the walls. You know, the dotted lines in the rooms? Heh. I didn't sense voiceover background, the narrator is in the picture, and it's not Foer (as you know), so -- we'll see.

I can't stand how great he is, I had a hard time finding something to read when I finished Extremely Close, too.

I would love it if you would post or PM what you've dug up of his bibiliography so far.

Eee!

Elijah Wood seems so right for the part. I barely recognized him for a second there. I just was over at Warner Independent Pictures' site (just stills, no trailer yet), and I got a little teary looking at them.

Pretty. But not too pretty. <p><!--EZCODE HR START--><hr /><!--EZCODE HR END--> I wish I had a million dollars ... HOT daaaawg!</p>

I did not care for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, but Everything is Illuminated is a great, great book.

Eli, why didn't you care for E L & I C... weeeird! Look, EliCash89, your name is in there! EliC.

Trippindicular. Spelling corrections welcome on that one.

Really, Eli, why don't you like EL&IC? <p><!--EZCODE HR START--><hr /><!--EZCODE HR END--> I wish I had a million dollars ... HOT daaaawg!</p>

Havnt read Foers sophomore effort, but I read everything is illuminated and thought it was good. I didnt fawn over it like everyone, probably because its not really my type of novel. So, in reality, thats saying nothing about the content. I think he writes very well. Most of you would probably agree with me on that.

Also, I heard the film adaptation was so-so.

Shoey just posted that the film version was gooooood. I started the novel but realized that I wasn't going to finish it before the movie came out. So I put it down. Now I'm trying to get to the movie! So I can read the book! Gah! <p><!--EZCODE HR START--><hr /><!--EZCODE HR END--> I wish I had a million dollars ... HOT daaaawg!</p>

I finished Everything is Illuminated about 2 months ago, and I was just blown away! I got so excited when I realized the movie was coming out, and I can't wait until I can get Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. Does anybody know when that's coming out in paperback? And I assume the movie is gone already...

Not necessarily GONE, DeleterLink (welcome, welcome), you might be able to find a couple of showtimes in a major theater chain at this point. Sometimes they pick 'em up late.

I don't know about the paperback, but hardcover just came out in June so ... ? A little soon, I think.

Well, I think I'm a bit late now, I've looked it up on Fandango a few times, but I couldn't find it... Anyhow, I got the book (hardcover) for my birthday, so I guess I'm all happy as a clam, now! <p>This is the story of my life:

"I be not mad, but mad in craft!"

+HAMLET+</p>

His characters are just so rich and magnificent. Plus, Jonathan Safran Foer is sexy. He's just so incredible.