Play Book Tag discussion

Oskar Schell is 9 years old. His father died in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Oskar is depressed and suffers from this loss. One day he finds a key hidden in a vase in his father's closet. Oskar begins a search to find the lock that the key fits.

He meets many people and travels the city in the months he works on this. He keeps it a secret though from his mother and his grandmother. This is told from Oskar's point of view.

There is also a storyline of Oskar's grandmother and his grandfather. It is told through both their views and letters they have written. They had survived bombings in Dresden from World War II when they were younger and still have lingering effects from it.

The author does a good job of showing how Oskar feels about things especially after 9/11. It is an important part of the book and you understood how he wanted to look for the key to find out more on is father. I felt his character's story and how it was told was a strength of the book.

The only Safran Foer book I have read was Here I Am, and I reviewed it at five stars and in my top 10 earlier this year. I got to attend a book signing with him and hear him speak about his experiences writing the book. He's every Very interesting man. I would be interested in his other works. I find him incredibly moving and very talented.

I enjoyed this book when I read it.

I was not a fan of this book. Only 2.5 stars from me.

LINK to my review

On the other hand, this booked touched me in many ways. Oskar reminded me of special needs students that I'd taught over the years. He also reminded me of my son who is a very different kind of person,but who also lost his father at a young age. As a surviving parent I identified strongly with Oskar's mother who is almost a peripheral character.

I loved this book when I read it. I have been wanting to read more of his books.

I loved this book.

I loved this, too. It's on my "favorites" shelf. I liked Everything Is Illuminated as well, although not as much. I have yet to read Here I Am, but after reading Amy's review I think I'll like it a lot.

Also a fan of this one - - surprisingly because I did not like Everything is Illuminated much at all. In this book, I really liked the way the grandparents relationship was portrayed.