2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Jonathan Safran Foer‘s book, Everything Is Illuminated.


***Please remember to mark spoilers.***

Participants: Amanda, Sheila

Suggested break down of reading so that you can check in and let us know how you're doing. The following breakdown is purely a suggestion and is therefore not set in stone.

Rather than putting dates for each section I've done it so that it takes into account that not everybody will necessarily have the book at the same time.

Week 1: 69
Week 2: 69
Week 3: 69
Week 4: 69

Hi Sheila, I'm reading Murder on the Orient Express so I want to finish it first. Then I'll start this one.

Amanda wrote: "Hi Sheila, I'm reading Murder on the Orient Express so I want to finish it first. Then I'll start this one."

I picked up a copy at the library today, but probably won't be able to start until Monday. I also need to finish another book for a book club.

Monday's good to start.

I have to admit this book got off to a slow start for me, but once I read a few chapters it began to make more sense. Now I'm enjoying it. Alex's command (or lack thereof) of the English language is humorous and it is his character along with Grandfather's that is keeping me interested. I'm still behind schedule but I hope I can finish it by early next week.

Hi Sheila, I haven't started it yet. It's the next book on my list. I'm reading it in Dutch which is not my native language which makes it more daunting and books in English have sneaked through. Sorry about that. I'm finishing Looking for Alaska first. I've read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close which I gave 4 stars to. I've heard only good things about Everything is Illuminated.

I read this a long time ago. My non-spoilery remembrances are that I enjoyed Foer's "look-at-me-ma" prose but never really enjoyed the story that much. I gave it a solid 3 stars. I'm looking forward to the discussion.

So I finished the book! I think I am still trying to process whether I liked it or not. I don't want my opinion to color the way anyone views the book before they read it so I will hide my comments from here.
(view spoiler)[ For me, I think, the story concept was good. Humorous in the way it was written and heartbreaking as a whole. But, it was hard to follow. Elements of both Brod's and Safran's stories were disturbing and uncomfortable and there were many questions left unanswered in the end. It was not what I was expecting and it left me feeling disappointed. (hide spoiler)]

Well done on finishing the book. I'm still reading it. I've read up to the part where the main characters meet. There's some interesting characters. Hopefully now the story will take off. I hope the thread will stay open in December so I can continue putting in comments.

I'm now more than halfway in the book. I still can't make up my mind if I like it or not. I'm going to keep plugging away at it and hoping that the last part of the book picks up.