For Everyone

At first glance, Foer’s novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, seems to be about just one horrific instance, concerning one boy and the loss of his father. However, in looking deeper into the story, the reader can find many human tragedies. When looking further, we find that Foer not only focuses on the hardships of Oskar, the fatherless nine-year-old, but he also the obstacles faced by the widowed mother, divorced woman, the recluse old man, the estranged grandfather and others. The struggles that man-kind endures everyday creates a common ground that unites us as humans. This book reaches a wide variety of people. The passion and feeling in this book will consume any reader.
Obviously, the people who were directly affected by 9/11 will identify with Foer’s novel. They may see themselves within the characters. Although reading this story would bring pain and suffering to loved ones of 9/11 victims, they may find it healing and a sense of closure. Any parents can relate to Oskar and also look at him as a child of their own. Oskar not only lost his father, but he also lost the only person who spoke his language. The fatherless boy is left to overcome this tragedy on his own. He set out on a quest to explain the key he found in his father’s closet. This journey was so important to Oskar that he was willing to face his fears of tall buildings and subways to find the answer. During this search one child’s pain later becomes another’s healing.
Beyond the obvious audience, adolescence and young adults can also benefit from this young boys search for life’s answers. The questions raised in this book are questions that even some adults have never asked themselves. It forces one to re-evaluate what is important in life. Instead of Oskar’s grandmother using up all of her energy being angry at her husband’s abandonment, she focuses on raising her child. In Oskar’s search for the truth, he won’t settle for any answers short of that. When his mother tells him that Oskar’s father’s spirit is in the coffin, he won’t accept it. He sees the coffin as an empty box. Another lesson that Oskar shows us is to not give up. He doesn’t accept his mother’s explanation for what is in the coffin, so he takes it upon himself to rectify the situation by placing the Renter’s letters in the coffin. This is not the only instance of Oskar not giving up. This lesson is consistent throughout the book.
The most general audience that this book draws in is any person who has ever experienced life. The human experiences that the characters in the story endure are ones that touch all of us in one way or another. Every human emotion wrapped into this book is felt by every human being. The characters face tragedy, love, hope, faith, loneliness, trust, distrust, pain, fear, agony, and anger.
Some readers will associate Oskar’s grandfather with society. At one time he could speak fluently, but as time went on lost the ability to speak. In the same sense, members of society find it hard to talk about some things and fear that they are crossing the line if they do. They find themselves muted when it is most important. When Grandpa came back from Europe, he couldn’t explain to Oskar who he was or where he came from. After 9/11, many people couldn’t ask the questions they should have been asking nor could they explain why in many cases.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close pushes people out of their comfort zones. Just as the title eludes, the questions and conflicts in this novel are so personal that they are difficult to wrestle. It can be uncomfortable as well as healing. The reader accompanies Oskar on his tumultuous journey to find answers to life. By the end of the story Oskar as well as Grandma, Grandpa, Mom and Mr. Black, have found closure.