"Everything Is Illuminated" is Jonathan Safran Foer's bestselling novel of a search for truth. It is the inspiration for the Liev Schreiber film, starring Elijah Wood. A young man arrives in the Ukraine, clutching in his hand a tattered photograph. He is searching for the woman who fifty years ago saved his grandfather from the Nazis. Unfortunately, he is aided in his quest by Alex, a translator with an uncanny ability to mangle English into bizarre new forms; a "blind" old man haunted by memories of the war; and an undersexed guide dog named Sammy Davis Jr, Jr. What they are looking for seems elusive - a truth hidden behind veils of time, language and the horrors of war. What they find turns all their worlds upside down..."An astonishing feat of writing: hilariously funny and deeply serious, a gripping narrative. Extraordinary". ("The Times"). "One of the most impressive novel debuts of recent years." (Joyce Carol Oates, "The Times Literary Supplement"). "A first novel of startling originality". (Jay McInerney, "Observer"). "Showy, smart. Made me laugh a lot". (Susan Sontag, "The Times Literary Supplement"). "It seems hard to believe that such a young writer can have such a deep understanding of both comedy and tragedy". (Erica Wagner, "The Times"). "A box of treasures". ("LA Times"). "Funny, life affirming, brilliant". ("Esquire"). Jonathan Safran Foer was born in 1977. He is the author of "Everything is Illuminated", which won the National Jewish Book Award and the Guardian First Book award; "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close", which is now a major film starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock; and "Eating Animals". He is also the editor of "A Convergence of Birds".
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Editorial Reviews
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'An astonishing feat' The Times
About the Author
Jonathan Safran Foer was born in 1977 and lives in Queens, New York. He is the editor of the anthology A CONVERGENCE OF BIRDS, which Hamish Hamilton will publish in 2004 alongside his second novel, THE ZELNIK MUSEUM.
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More About the Author
Jonathan Safran Foer is the author of the bestseller Everything Is Illuminated, named Book of the Year by the Los Angeles Times and the winner of numerous awards, including the Guardian First Book Prize, the National Jewish Book Award, and the New York Public Library Young Lions Prize. Foer was one of Rolling Stone's "People of the Year" and Esquire's "Best and Brightest." Foreign rights to his new novel have already been sold in ten countries. The film of Everything Is Illuminated, directed by Liev Schreiber and starring Elijah Wood, will be released in August 2005. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has been optioned for film by Scott Rudin Productions in conjunction with Warner Brothers and Paramount Pictures. Foer lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The eccentric and attention-seeking graphics of the bookjacket convey the idea that this book is fresh, daring, kooky, and inventive--and the book is all these things! But it is also serious and thoughtful, touching on universal themes and the essence of what makes us human. With young "heroes" who are sometimes both earnest and sweetly vulnerable, the book contains moments of profound melancholy, as well as deep sadness, behind its bravado and its finger-snapping brio.
Jonathan Safran Foer, a character bearing the same name as the author, is looking for the woman he believes saved his grandfather Safran from the Nazis. Traveling to the Ukraine, he meets Alex Perchov, a young man representing a Ukrainian travel agency which specializes in taking tourists to the sites of vanished shetls. Alex, a not-quite-fluent translator, and his "blind" grandfather, who serves as the driver, travel with Jonathan to the site of Trachimbrod, his family's village, collecting stories and legends which will help Jonathan learn about his family and his Ukrainian Jewish heritage.
Parts of the book are a bit sophomoric. (How many farting dog jokes does one need? And do we really need to know the details of Grandfather Safran's 132 mistresses?) The fictional Jonathan's letters and comments as he writes a novel about his trip are an artificial device for dealing, perhaps, with the author's uncertainties and/or heading off criticism, while the chapters he includes for Alex's review, are, of course, the actual chapters of this book. And Alex's misuse of language, while often very funny, begins to pall after numerous repetitions.
But these are minor criticisms in view of the author's immense achievement in dynamically presenting two young men as they explore who they are, where they come from, and how they fit in the world. As the sought-after story of each boy's grandfather emerges, the depth and breadth of family relationships and cultural history become clearer to character and reader alike. The dramatic and moving conclusion clearly establishes Foer's credentials as a brilliant new talent. Mary Whipple
Jonathan Safran Foer, a character bearing the same name as the author, is looking for the woman he believes saved his grandfather Safran from the Nazis. Traveling to the Ukraine, he meets Alex Perchov, a young man representing a Ukrainian travel agency which specializes in taking tourists to the sites of vanished shetls. Alex, a not-quite-fluent translator, and his "blind" grandfather, who serves as the driver, travel with Jonathan to the site of Trachimbrod, his family's village, collecting stories and legends which will help Jonathan learn about his family and his Ukrainian Jewish heritage.
Parts of the book are a bit sophomoric. (How many farting dog jokes does one need? And do we really need to know the details of Grandfather Safran's 132 mistresses?) The fictional Jonathan's letters and comments as he writes a novel about his trip are an artificial device for dealing, perhaps, with the author's uncertainties and/or heading off criticism, while the chapters he includes for Alex's review, are, of course, the actual chapters of this book. And Alex's misuse of language, while often very funny, begins to pall after numerous repetitions.
But these are minor criticisms in view of the author's immense achievement in dynamically presenting two young men as they explore who they are, where they come from, and how they fit in the world. As the sought-after story of each boy's grandfather emerges, the depth and breadth of family relationships and cultural history become clearer to character and reader alike. The dramatic and moving conclusion clearly establishes Foer's credentials as a brilliant new talent. Mary Whipple
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Jonathan Safran Foer takes literary risks and entertaining leaps in his debut novel, "Everything is Illuminated," an amusing chunk of magical realism. It's a tragicomic experience, centering on the devastation of the Holocaust, and a modern-day quest for the past.
A young Jewish American man -- same name as the author, Jonathan Safran Foer -- travels to the Ukraine. His reason: to locate Augustine, a woman who apparently saved his grandfather from the Nazis... only he just has a photo to guide him. He's accompanied by an annoying, flatulent dog, and an old man haunted by war memories.
He also corresponds with the old man's quirky grandson Alex, and new revelations are made about both young men through their letters. And in the third story-line, we are treated to the history of Trachimbrod, an endearing shtetl full of peculiar people... which was destroyed by the Nazis long ago.
"Everything is Illuminated" seems to be primarily about the past and present, and how those two things connect. To twentysomethings now, World War II seems as distant in some ways as the Trojan War, unless brought to life by someone else's words. Foer may not have been there during the Holocaust, but his unique novel will leave you thinking and wondering about the past.
It's certainly an unconventional story. Foer has a quirky, offbeat style that gets a little off-kilter. And he bends everything from his narrative to the characters to the English language ("spleening"?). Not to mention reality -- by naming his alter ego Jonathan Safran Foer, he blurs the line between fiction and reality. Is this based on anything real? Does Alex exist? Is there a Trachimbrod? At the end of the day, none of it matters. Even if these things don't actually exist, they certainly do have real counterparts.
Foer's book is not quite a work of genius. Sometimes the fragmented, topsy-turvy narrative runs away from him. Not to mention that the in-jokes -- the flatulent dog, the Russo-American dialect -- do not age terribly well. But the humor and magical realism tinges start to fade as the Holocaust looms overhead. While the opening chapters may make you laugh, it becomes far deeper and more intricate later on.
"Everything" may not be totally illuminated, but it is a quirky, sometimes saddening book that stumbles and takes a few risks. A flawed but excellent debut.
A young Jewish American man -- same name as the author, Jonathan Safran Foer -- travels to the Ukraine. His reason: to locate Augustine, a woman who apparently saved his grandfather from the Nazis... only he just has a photo to guide him. He's accompanied by an annoying, flatulent dog, and an old man haunted by war memories.
He also corresponds with the old man's quirky grandson Alex, and new revelations are made about both young men through their letters. And in the third story-line, we are treated to the history of Trachimbrod, an endearing shtetl full of peculiar people... which was destroyed by the Nazis long ago.
"Everything is Illuminated" seems to be primarily about the past and present, and how those two things connect. To twentysomethings now, World War II seems as distant in some ways as the Trojan War, unless brought to life by someone else's words. Foer may not have been there during the Holocaust, but his unique novel will leave you thinking and wondering about the past.
It's certainly an unconventional story. Foer has a quirky, offbeat style that gets a little off-kilter. And he bends everything from his narrative to the characters to the English language ("spleening"?). Not to mention reality -- by naming his alter ego Jonathan Safran Foer, he blurs the line between fiction and reality. Is this based on anything real? Does Alex exist? Is there a Trachimbrod? At the end of the day, none of it matters. Even if these things don't actually exist, they certainly do have real counterparts.
Foer's book is not quite a work of genius. Sometimes the fragmented, topsy-turvy narrative runs away from him. Not to mention that the in-jokes -- the flatulent dog, the Russo-American dialect -- do not age terribly well. But the humor and magical realism tinges start to fade as the Holocaust looms overhead. While the opening chapters may make you laugh, it becomes far deeper and more intricate later on.
"Everything" may not be totally illuminated, but it is a quirky, sometimes saddening book that stumbles and takes a few risks. A flawed but excellent debut.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have a book review blog that reviewed this book on February 2, 2009:
[...]
"A very good novel split into sections that go back and forth. One narrated by a Ukranian who cannot speak English very well, but it improves as he keeps studying. He works as a translator with his Grandfather for his father's touring business that allows tourists to find old places their ancestors once lived, etc. And he narrates the story of "the hero" and his search to find a woman who saved his grandfather in World War II. Other sections are the hero's writings of his own family history from a terrible wagon accident in a river by his very-great grandfather to the same river many years and generations after during the war. The other sections are letters as the two characters send their writings back and forth across the ocean and comment on each other's lives. It is a great novel that has you feeling for everyone in it, even "the bitch, Sammy Davis, Junior, Junior." (Shhh: One part made me cry.)"
[From Facebook's "Caught Reading: Summer Project 2007"]
Although I cannot remember exactly which part made me cry, I do know that I am still in love with this book. The idea of a personalized tour through your own family history fascinates me. The Hero is trying to find the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis during World War II. However, his tour guides don't come off as professional at first glance. Alex is a Ukranian obsessed with the club scene and still learning to speak English, which is an important fact since he is working as translator. It's a family enterprise: Alex's father owns the tour company, and Alex's grandfather is the nearly blind van driver who is extremely protective of his "seeing eye bitch," a horny dog named Sammy Davis Junior, Jr. As Alex leads the Hero through the countryside to learn more about family history, Alex is also getting closer to his grandfather. This story line is a very entertaining one, enough to make a movie starring Elijah Wood, but the movie leaves out my favorite parts. Intertwined with this narrative are the writings of the Hero about the story of his ancestors. While searching for the woman who saved his grandfather, the Hero writes the narrative of his family's history leading up to the story of that grandfather. The historical excerpts from the city of Trachimbrod are all shocking, engaging, lovable, disturbing, and all together memorable. I just can't get over the amazing love story of the Hero's ancestors, but also the amusing workings of the tour group as they trace through the Ukranian countryside where millions of treasures lay buried in jars.
The amazing balance of detail and simplicity makes Foer's writing accessible to all types of readers. The intricate plot that he weaves also makes it enjoyable for all. There is seriously something for everyone in this novel, and the writing style helps prove this. The author has a distinct style for the separate sections of this novel and because of this, I do not get confused by the plot jumps, and can keep reading and enjoying the journey.
Foer's novel is a great search for knowledge that ends up illuminating more than what was originally sought after. When looking for a good read, you will definitely get more than expected from this work. And in a good way. That is the only way I can think to describe this book. I definitely recommend this novel for everyone! It will definitely stay with you. It is a must read before anyone can call themselves a "well-read person."
"You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend."
-Paul Sweeney
[...]
"A very good novel split into sections that go back and forth. One narrated by a Ukranian who cannot speak English very well, but it improves as he keeps studying. He works as a translator with his Grandfather for his father's touring business that allows tourists to find old places their ancestors once lived, etc. And he narrates the story of "the hero" and his search to find a woman who saved his grandfather in World War II. Other sections are the hero's writings of his own family history from a terrible wagon accident in a river by his very-great grandfather to the same river many years and generations after during the war. The other sections are letters as the two characters send their writings back and forth across the ocean and comment on each other's lives. It is a great novel that has you feeling for everyone in it, even "the bitch, Sammy Davis, Junior, Junior." (Shhh: One part made me cry.)"
[From Facebook's "Caught Reading: Summer Project 2007"]
Although I cannot remember exactly which part made me cry, I do know that I am still in love with this book. The idea of a personalized tour through your own family history fascinates me. The Hero is trying to find the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis during World War II. However, his tour guides don't come off as professional at first glance. Alex is a Ukranian obsessed with the club scene and still learning to speak English, which is an important fact since he is working as translator. It's a family enterprise: Alex's father owns the tour company, and Alex's grandfather is the nearly blind van driver who is extremely protective of his "seeing eye bitch," a horny dog named Sammy Davis Junior, Jr. As Alex leads the Hero through the countryside to learn more about family history, Alex is also getting closer to his grandfather. This story line is a very entertaining one, enough to make a movie starring Elijah Wood, but the movie leaves out my favorite parts. Intertwined with this narrative are the writings of the Hero about the story of his ancestors. While searching for the woman who saved his grandfather, the Hero writes the narrative of his family's history leading up to the story of that grandfather. The historical excerpts from the city of Trachimbrod are all shocking, engaging, lovable, disturbing, and all together memorable. I just can't get over the amazing love story of the Hero's ancestors, but also the amusing workings of the tour group as they trace through the Ukranian countryside where millions of treasures lay buried in jars.
The amazing balance of detail and simplicity makes Foer's writing accessible to all types of readers. The intricate plot that he weaves also makes it enjoyable for all. There is seriously something for everyone in this novel, and the writing style helps prove this. The author has a distinct style for the separate sections of this novel and because of this, I do not get confused by the plot jumps, and can keep reading and enjoying the journey.
Foer's novel is a great search for knowledge that ends up illuminating more than what was originally sought after. When looking for a good read, you will definitely get more than expected from this work. And in a good way. That is the only way I can think to describe this book. I definitely recommend this novel for everyone! It will definitely stay with you. It is a must read before anyone can call themselves a "well-read person."
"You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend."
-Paul Sweeney
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable
Whilst I enjoyed the book, it wasn't as good as Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close.
That said, the author sure can tell a story!
That said, the author sure can tell a story!
Published 1 month ago by candace
2.0 out of 5 stars
Strange book - why the big fuss about it?
I read this book to the end because my friend really liked it. But it was rather strange for my taste. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mark M.
5.0 out of 5 stars
in the proximity of love
A friend from Spain gave me this book, since she was unable to read it. I began reading it aloud to my German husband, and while he enjoyed some parts -- like the "book of... Read more
Published 10 months ago by rachel
1.0 out of 5 stars
wow
did this kid really have penguin print his book to look like it's one of their old classics?
even the book jacket is as superficial as the book in this instance. Read more
even the book jacket is as superficial as the book in this instance. Read more
Published 24 months ago by MenotYou
3.0 out of 5 stars
I feel illuminated
Everything is Illuminated, by Jonathan Safran Foer, is the first book I've read this year. It was a gift to me in September 2010, and it is only now that I have had the time to sit... Read more
Published on March 9, 2011 by Lisa Herbertson
2.0 out of 5 stars
Weird and Disappointing
The contemporary scenes in the book, narrated by the Ukrainian interpreter, got me through the book. The scenes from the past were weird and self-indulgent. Read more
Published on March 20, 2009 by A reader
4.0 out of 5 stars
Modern Classic
A modern masterpiece. These charmingly, quirky characters will stick in your mind long after reading this wonderful novel. Read more
Published on January 13, 2009 by Roy Pickering
5.0 out of 5 stars
you should read this
Jonathan Safran Foer's use of the English language is beautiful. While he has a very different style of writing and it may take a little while to get into it, I don't see what... Read more
Published on April 17, 2008 by J. Borga
3.0 out of 5 stars
the rare exception where the film is better than the book
Having seen the film, I anticipated that, as is so often the case, the book would be much better. I was disappointed. Read more
Published on December 31, 2007 by doc peterson
1.0 out of 5 stars
The Emperor Has No Clothes
(Possible spoiler ahead) I read this book in a book club a few years ago and absolutely hated it. There is nary a truth to be found in it. Instead you get the pastiche of truth. Read more
Published on December 16, 2007 by Monkey Bingo
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