Jonathan Safran Foer.

• Author of Everything Is Illuminated.
• Appeared on the international Best Books of 2002-list.

• Won The National Jewish Book Award.
• Won The Guardian First Book Award.
• Has been published in 24 countries.
• Film adaptation set for release in august 2005.
• Author of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.
• Published only three months ago.
• Already optioned for release in ten other countries.
• Already optioned for a film by Warner Bros.
• One of Rolling Stone's 'People of the Year'.


• Esquire Magazine's 'Best and Brightest'.


• Only three fucking years older than I am!

This guy already blew me away with his debut novel, Everything Is Illuminated, but his follow up is, if at all possible, even better than his first. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is such an emotionally powerful book, you'll find yourself swallowing and closing the book for a break more often than not.

The book deals with 9/11, its central event (though only alluded to), the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, and the firebombing of Dresden - but besides these historical events that are still fresh in the minds of the reader, Foer deals with basic, essential emotions such as love, loss, fear and anger.

What makes Foer so special is that he treats his books as a canvas, and not just as paper on which you can write - there are photographs, all relevant to the story, sprinkled throughout the books, and there's also all kinds of strange typography. All of these elements enhance the story, make it more powerful.

This is more than a book telling a story, this is an experience. An experience that ends with what is unquestionably the most heartbreaking and beautiful flip book in all of literature.

After reading Cryptonomicon, my current favourite book, last year, I didn't think anything could ever top that. I'm not sure yet, but I think Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close has managed it.

Cheers