# Please read this book: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 27, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423 "2005-03-27T01:41:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![strangecurrencies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@strangecurrencies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strangecurrencies)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/1 "2005-03-27T01:41:32Z")
_Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close_ by Jonathan Safran Foer. I made a thread here about his first novel, only one person responded. Its the kind of book you almost wish you could offer to pay back the purchase price to a complete stranger if they find themselves unmoved . You can read the first chapter free at [www.jonathansafranfoer.com](http://www.jonathansafranfoer.com). Its beautiful. Trust me, take a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/2 "2005-03-27T01:52:58Z")
As someone for whom demand outstrips supply as good reading is concerned I may just obey your request. I feel the same way about a book called ‘Cloud Atlas’. A truly brilliant and unique book. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/3 "2005-03-27T02:04:50Z")
The link doesn’t appear to work, but I’m always impressed when people mention **one** particular book. I’ve heard good things about this one elsewhere too. Will check it out [_she said, sighing, as she realized she owns more books than she can read in her lifetime_]. ---
**Author:** ![bclouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@bclouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bclouse)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/4 "2005-03-27T02:06:40Z")
> [@strangecurrencies](#): > > _Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close_ by Jonathan Safran Foer. Sounds interesting. I just looked it up on Amazon and it said it’s a follow-up to _Everything Is Illuminated_. Have you read that one? Should it be read before going onto _Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close_? _Cloud Atlas_ sounds very interesting as well. I’ll be on the lookout for both. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/5 "2005-03-27T02:09:44Z")
I just read a little bit of Everything Is Illuminated at Amazon. Is it supposed to be this funny? The narrator sounds like one of the Wild and Crazy Guys. 🙂 Echoing **bclouse** , should we read this one first? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/6 "2005-03-27T02:22:10Z")
So it goes on and on like that? This looks like a case where it’s not that I “don’t get it” rather that I am not in the target audience. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/7 "2005-03-27T04:35:24Z")
> [@](#): > > I just read a little bit of Everything Is Illuminated at Amazon. Is it supposed to be this funny? The narrator sounds like one of the Wild and Crazy Guys. The book is supposed to be written by Foer’s Russian guide, Alex, who doesn’t speak English as fluently as he believes he does. ---
**Author:** ![strangecurrencies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@strangecurrencies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strangecurrencies)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/8 "2005-03-27T05:11:32Z")
**bclouse** : It’s a follow up only in the sense that it’s Foer’s second novel. Although the two are not connected plotwise, \*Everything is Illuminated \* is also a great book, funny and heartbreaking as well. By the way, it will be released this year as a film, directed by Liev Schreiber and starring Elijah Wood. And, re the narration in _…Illuminated_ , what **Little Nemo** said. ---
**Author:** ![Zahava424](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/76d3ee/32.png) [@Zahava424](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zahava424)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/9 "2005-03-28T04:48:33Z")
I’m about halfway through Everything Is Illuminated. I find it oddly compelling, for no reason I can put my finger on. I’ll probably read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close afterward. ---
**Author:** ![bclouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@bclouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bclouse)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/10 "2005-04-01T04:09:37Z")
Just found this Review on [CNN.com](http://CNN.com). They seem to like it. Thought you might be interested. I saw it in the bookstore this weekend. It looks good but I’ll probably wait till it comes out in paperback. Not a huge hardcover fan. ---
**Author:** ![strangecurrencies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@strangecurrencies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strangecurrencies)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2005, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/11 "2005-04-01T05:00:56Z")
Thanks for the link, **bclouse**. I extend to you, as a one-time-only offer, the refund your purchase price deal I mentioned in the OP. No kidding. Read the hardback, I’ll take your word that you bought it and didn’t read a library copy, I’ll take your word that you disliked the book if you tell me so. I don’t see much I feel this strongly about, literary-wise, lately. I appreciate your reposting here about this book, I thought the post was sunk in the depths of the sea. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2005, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/12 "2005-04-01T11:36:07Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > [_she said, sighing, as she realized she owns more books than she can read in her lifetime_]. You say this like it is a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/13 "2005-04-01T16:01:12Z")
It’s not a bad thing, for me. But I picture my poor kids, cleaning out the house after I’m gone, opening closets and cupboards and yelling out “More books! Did she think she’d live forever?” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/14 "2005-04-01T16:11:24Z")
Thread title changed to relieve that uneasy aura of ambiguity. – Uke, CS mod ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/15 "2012-01-22T07:11:57Z")
Sorry to resurrect this zombie thread, but I had a question about Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I just saw the movie and mostly enjoyed it. One thing I found frustrating, though, is that they never tell you what is in the safe deposit box that the key opens. In the book, does the author tell you what was in the safe deposit box? Thanks, J. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/16 "2012-01-23T00:42:43Z")
> [@jharvey963](#): > > Sorry to resurrect this zombie thread, but I had a question about Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I just saw the movie and mostly enjoyed it. One thing I found frustrating, though, is that > > they never tell you what is in the safe deposit box that the key opens. In the book, does the author tell you what was in the safe deposit box? > > Thanks, > J. In the book it’s not a safe deposit key, it’s just a key to something, I won’t tell you what. I read the book and was very Meh about it. It started out really good and then just sort of plodded on and finished with no real ending or resolution. Very disappointing IMHO. A lot of potential, no delivery. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/17 "2012-01-23T02:41:59Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > In the book it’s not a safe deposit key, it’s just a key to something, I won’t tell you what. I read the book and was very Meh about it. It started out really good and then just sort of plodded on and finished with no real ending or resolution. Very disappointing IMHO. A lot of potential, no delivery. Actually, I’m not going to read the book. I’m just curious about what the key was for. So spoiler it if you want. Thanks, J. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/18 "2012-01-23T15:55:33Z")
> [@jharvey963](#): > > Actually, I’m not going to read the book. I’m just curious about what the key was for. So spoiler it if you want. > > Thanks, > J. Oops I was wrong: It was a safe deposit key but it belonged to a stranger who sold the vase it was in to the kid’s Dad. The vase belonged to the stranger’s dead Dad and he sold it before he knew it was in there. So the stranger didn’t know what was in the safe deposit box either. By the time I read that I was pretty disgusted and basically stopped paying attention. Sorry. I haven’t seen the movie and probably won’t is this the way it came about in the movie? ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/19 "2012-01-23T16:06:51Z")
Another recommendation for Cloud Atlas, and I also highly recommend Ghost Written by the same author. I’ll check out the OP’s recommendation. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-this-book-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-by-jonathan-safran-foer/296423/20 "2012-01-23T19:03:29Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > Oops I was wrong: > > It was a safe deposit key but it belonged to a stranger who sold the vase it was in to the kid’s Dad. The vase belonged to the stranger’s dead Dad and he sold it before he knew it was in there. So the stranger didn’t know what was in the safe deposit box either. By the time I read that I was pretty disgusted and basically stopped paying attention. Sorry. I haven’t seen the movie and probably won’t is this the way it came about in the movie? Yes, all of that is in the movie. What I would like to know is, in the book, did they tell you what was in the safe deposit box that the key opened for Mr. Black? Thanks, J.