EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED
“Everything is illuminated” is the first novel of the American author Jonathan Safran Foer published in 2002. It has been the New York Best seller in 2002, Amazon Best Book in 2002 and National Jewish Book Award winner in 2001.In 2005 it has also been adapted in a film.
SYNOPSIS:
With only a yellowing photograph in hand, a young man – also named Jonathan Safran Foer – sets out to find the woman who may or may not have saved his grandfather from the Nazis. Accompanied by an old man haunted by memories of the war; an amorous dog named Sammy Davis, Junior, Junior; and the unforgettable Alex, a young Ukrainian translator who speaks in a sublimely butchered English, Jonathan is led on a quixotic journey over a devastated landscape and into an unexpected past.
REVIEW:
Touching, agonizing and painful.
Stories that can be compared to little streams that at least flow into the same bigger river. From the story of the main characters’ journey -through the shtetl and memories in Ukraine, to the story of the shtetl of Trachimbrod from 1791 with the story of Brod until the story of Johnathan’s grandfather and the Nazis’ invasion.
The story of the shtetl focus on Brod, a little girl that is found in the river after a wagon fall down in it. Only the little girl survive. From that day on, Brod has a very difficult and particular journey to reach the summit of her life and to achieve happiness. Brod has been committed to the usurer Yankel D and lives with him until his death.
As she was the prettiest girl in the shtetl and Yankel’s daughter she has always been excluded from the other, but thanks to her strenght she survive and marry. Nothing will be easier for her. Her story is at the same time a piece of amazing literature and agonizing until the end of her life.
The journey seeking for Trachmbrod is full of emotions and full of difficulties. After the Nazi’s invasion in Ukraine, the shtetl has been destroyed but a woman look after what had remained of it. Alex and Jonathan and Alex’s grand dad are fully catapulted into the story of Trachimbrod.
The story of the shtetl and of the journey in Ukraine is spaced out by the letters of Alex to Jonathan after the journey. At first he lies to him and exaggerate his experiences, but as soon as they become friend, the relation become more more real and friendly. I appreciate how Alex first impression of Jonfren, as he usually call him, start to change and transform.
Something pretty funny is Sammy Davis Junior Junior, it’s a spectacular guide and dog, you will certainly appreciate and laugh a lot! Even if you will cry, laugh and agonize in feelings,it’s a touching journey into a past that will bring out memories and plenty of emotions.
AUTHOR
Jonathan Safran Foer was born in Washington in 1977. His fisrt book “Everything is illuminated” has won the National Jewish Book Award and the Guardian First Book Award. His second book “Extremely Loud ans Incredibly Close” was published in 2005.