Jonathan Safran Foer won the Guardian Prize for the best first novel in 2001 for Everything is Illuminated. He also won a number of other prizes, including the United States Jewish Book Award.
Everything is Illuminated is a story based of history, religion, family, war and understanding. The main charater in the book shares his name with the books author as he seeks to understand how his Jewish grandfather survived the second world war when his shtetl (village) and all of its Jewish inhabitants perished.
The book itself follows four stories which can make the reading heavy going at the begining. The first story is of the history of the grandfathers shtetl; the second is the grandfather’s life; the third is the main characters search; and the final story is the retelling of the adventure by a second charater, Alexander, who is Jonathan’s tour guide and translator.
The writer uses a number of different writing techniques, including letters from Alexander, to tell the overall story. The reading is kept interesting by Alexander’s use of the English language, the dog which accompanies Jonathan, Alexander and Alexander’s grandfather on their journey and history of the fictious shetel, Trachimbrod.
Whilst the story may seem disjointed or even confusing, it is most definately worth persisting. Safran Foer has a wonderful way with words and when the stories begin to intertwine, it is almost impossible to put the book down. I gave up an entire night’s sleep once I became hooked.
My favourite quote from this book is: “…I love you also means I love you more than anyone else loves you, or has loved you, and or will love you, and also I love you in a way that no one loves you, or has loved you, and or will love you, and also I love you in a way I have loved no one else, and have never loved anyone else, or never will love anyone else.“
For more information see www.jonathansafranfoer.com
