Humor and pathos are deftly woven together in this remarkable New York Times best-seller that has won sweeping critical acclaim. Jonathan is a Jewish college student searching Europe for the one person he believes can explain his roots. Alex, a lover of America and unsurpassed butcher of the English language, is his lovable Ukrainian guide. On their quixotic quest, past and present merge-and hysterically funny moments collide with great tragedy.
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"This is the best book I've read in a while. I liked it from the beginning because it was so funny. But then it went from funny to sweet to sad to devastating to hopeful(?). Actually, I don't know if it was hopeful in the end. But borrowing words from Alex, this was a "premium" novel, and Jonathan Safran Foer is indeed an "ingenious Jew"." — Shucheta (5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the best book I've read in a while. I liked it from the beginning because it was so funny. But then it went from funny to sweet to sad to devastating to hopeful(?). Actually, I don't know if it was hopeful in the end. But borrowing words from Alex, this was a "premium" novel, and Jonathan Safran Foer is indeed an "ingenious Jew"."
"[A] funny, moving…deeply felt novel about the dangers of confronting the past and the redemption that comes with laughing at it, even when that seems all but impossible.”
“[A] dazzling literary high-wire act…Brilliant…The payoff is extraordinary: a fearless, acrobatic, ultimately haunting effort.”
“Imagine a novel as verbally cunning as A Clockwork Orange, as harrowing as The Painted Bird, as exuberant and twee as Candide, and you have Everything Is Illuminated…Read it, and you’ll feel altered, chastened — seared in the fire of something new.”
“A rambunctious tour de force of inventive and intelligent storytelling…Foer can place his reader’s hand on the heart of human experience, the transcendent beauty of human connections. Read, you can feel the life beating.”
" ...one of the rarer times I can say I enjoyed the movie much more... "
" I might be the only one who thought this book was just okay. I found it a little difficult to follow. I did enjoy the connection to Ukraine and found humor in parts of the book. "
" well that sure was...a thing "
" Hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. "
" I've never read anything like this. Sometimes I had no idea what I was reading, and then... Everything was illuminated. "
" This was one of the books from the "1001 Books you Need to Read fore you Die" list where I thought "why is this on the list?!" I mean ... it didn't take me very long to read, and it was pretty inoffensive, but ...it didn't really make an impression on me at all. "
" Good story, entertaining characters. I found myself reading a lot of the funnier lines aloud to others. "
" Loved it. Jealous a 24 year old wrote it. Genius. "
" I didn't finish this book. I give the author credit for the creative characters and "voice" but I didn't enjoy wading through it. "
" If DFW were a Jew with feelings. "
" One of those can't put down books. Sad and funny and one of my all time favourites. I didn't rate the book five stars only because I had trouble keeping some of the history straight. "
" One of the best books I have EVER encountered in my reading career. A sublime read with a perfect mixture of poetic lyricism and modern vulgarity. "
" Victims of war twice removed generationally... Magical realism, history, humor, drama, tragedy. What would you like? Enjoyed this book. "
" Ugh. Couldn't finish it. Awful! "
" Very nice, very original "
" This book is in your face about many social issues. The language can be a bit over the top at times. "
" GOD, that was good. Made me cry, made me laugh, made me think. Lovely. Wonderful. "
" very interesting narrative form, stunning (but semi-impractical) ending. "
" Can't decide if the author is just absolutely putting us on!?! "
" Colorful narration and weaving narrative carries some heavy concepts. A thoroughly entertaining and meaningful book. "
" favorite parts are the letters from/to Ukraine, village stuff is harder to follow, but hilarious and depressing, too. "
" pretty weird, hard to follow at times... "
" Funny + beautiful + sad = my kind of book. "
" I did like it though not as much as some cool people I know. Saw the movie first and I LOVE the movie, so I might have been expecting something else. I do know the book and movie have different endings - perhaps I like the movie ending a bit better? Want to read more of his stuff for sure. "
" Overrated. First half good, becomes tripe "
" I started Guernsey way early. I'm starting Everything is Illuminated way late. I hope June I shall find a balance! "
" Lots of amazing moments, but because it is so close to being a better book, yet just misses its goal, it leaves you unsatisfied. "
Jonathan Safran Foer is the author of the novels Everything Is Illuminated, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and Here I Am and of the nonfiction books Eating Animals and We Are the Weather. Everything Is Illuminated won several literary prizes, including the National Jewish Book Award and the Guardian First Book Award. His work has been translated into thirty-six languages.
Scott Shina is the narrator of such audiobooks as The Kid Who Became President by Dan Gutman and Finding Caruso by Kim Barnes.
Jeff Woodman is an actor and narrator. He is a winner of the prestigious Audie Award and a six-time finalist. He has received twenty Earphones Awards and was named the 2008 Best Voice in Fiction & Classics, as well as one of the Fifty Greatest Voices of the Century by AudioFile magazine. As an actor, he originated the title role in Tennessee Williams’ The Notebook of Trigorin and won the S. F. Critics’ Circle Award for his performance in An Ideal Husband. In addition to numerous theater credits on and off Broadway, his television work includes Sex and the City, Law & Order, and Cosby.
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