Everything Is Illuminated

I don't know why I avoided this book for as long as I did. I had it in my hand at least 6 or 7 times at the library or airport bookstore and yet never managed to bring it home. That might have been because the plot sounded overly intricate or maybe because I didn't like the looks of Elijah Wood on the cover of the paperback that was released to promote the movie version of the novel. Regardless, I waited.

A few weeks ago, my sister B finished the book and said it was funny. But she also paused and said, "I'll be interested to find out what you think of it." Of course that meant I had to read it. And I'm glad I did! I can see why she gave it a mixed review...although the beginning is indeed hilarious, some parts in the middle are kind of tedious. And then the book takes a turn and just becomes totally heart wrenching!

As I mentioned above, the plot is overly intricate, but I will do my best to describe... Most of the story is narrated by Alex, a Ukranian translator who accompanies the hero, Jonathan Safran Foer, on his quest to find the woman he thinks saved his grandfather from the Nazis. In between Alex's letters and book 'divisions' are sections of Jonathan's own novel about the history of the village where his grandfather grew up.

The chapters narrated by Alex are wonderful. His broken English is funny at first and then touching as the novel progresses. The alternating chapters about the history of the shetl use a little too much magical realism for my liking...I found myself racing through Jonathan's novel so that I could get to one of Alex's chapters. And then at the end, I just wasn't really sure what to think.

This may not sound like a ringing endorsement, but I'm very glad I read this book! It makes you think if you know what I mean.

On a side note, I think my sister and I both eventually picked up this book because we loved Nicole Krauss' The History of Love so much. She's married to Jonathan Safran Foer, so it seemed like the right thing to do, to read his book too. Although I did enjoy Everything Is Illuminated, I still think his wife wrote a better book :)