Everything is illuminated By Jonathan Safran Foer

Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0141037326
Genre: Novel, fiction
Pages: 276
Bestsellers: Everything is illuminated, Extremely loud and incredibly close
Published: 2002


Synopsis: [from flipkart] It tells the story of a young man who goes to the Ukraine in search of the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis. He is aided in his quest by a blind old man, a randy guide dog and a very, very bad translator. It is funny, moving and gripping.


Nightflier Speaks:
Lately my reading list has been brimming with 'big, huge, bulky' books. So when a friend was redeeming a gift coupon and asked for suggestions, I very selfishly told her to include this rather small one. She did and I got my hands on this much talked about debut novel by Jonathan Safran Foer. From the title it felt like a very self indulgent tale. Midway I realized how the title is a clever play on words, from a non-english-speaking person's point of view. Also, I love stories set in Nazi germany. There is a distinct human-ness in them.


This story is about an American, on a journey to meet a woman who saved his grandfather in the Nazi days, with the help of a young translator Sasha, his seemingly blind grandfather Alex as the driver and the grandfather's deranged dog (bitch) Sammy Davis Jr. Jr. A simple tale of search and finding something. It is made hilarious by the meager english speaking skills of Sasha. American, is aptly called 'the hero' in third person. The myriad getting on the nerves conversations these 3 have, with the quirks of Sammy Davis Jr. Jr. set the pace for the journey. It has the peculiarity of a foreigner caught in a poignant search amid very curious locals.


The author uses many narrative techniques. There is a non-english speaking Ukrainian telling the tale with the most hilarious use of the thesaurus. Few gems - manufacture tears, feeling premium, etc.
There is an objective voice talking about the history of the place and people. There is magical realism. There is this use of colloquial Jewish vocabulary and Jewish humor every now and then. Though I was a bit lost in the first 50 pages, I egged on. All techniques fit nicely in the scope of the book and add a distinct flavor to the story. Though I am wondering if, for a first book this is too much experimentation!


Writing always gives you second chances. It gives you an option to write 'the truth' or hide it in layers. But 'the truth' makes stories more human. And every character in the book is so much more than they seem. Brod, Lista, Sasha, Alex, Yankel, and numerous other beautiful people. All have a sense of melancholy to them. The book carries it very seamlessly from one character's perspective to the other. It is a great debut novel. To be read in one seating, and journey to pre-war, post-war Ukraine.


P.S. there is a movie based the book. Trailer here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSUOYY4oukc


Rating: 4/5
Price: Rs. 223 [flipkart]

Jessamine by Eugenia O'Neal

JESSAMINEAUTHOR: Eugenia O'Neal
Genre: Novel / Fiction
NO. OF PAGES: 218
Apologies. I could not find the ISBN for the book anywhere and neither its price. I read the e book.

EXCERPT: (Talking about the mango tree in their yard,)

' “You’d never know to look at them that they’re diseased,” I marvel.

“A metaphor for the island and its politics. Let me go get your luggage.”  '

SWARNALI SPEAKS: Jessamine is the tale of two women, from two different time periods coming together for the same cause. The similarities in the lives of the two women are numerous,and so is their zeal for the change that they strive for. Jessamine is the beautiful mansion they both live in. Grace's life is in the present,she has come to stay in the island of St. Crescens to live with her husband,Julian. Arabella is a character from the past,from the 1800,she comes to the island in search of a livelihood. How their paths cross and how they interact with each other is very interesting.

The author uses a double narrative pattern in autobiographical style where her two protagonists speak for themselves and at times for the other. The chapters are alternately named Arabella and Grace for the readers to understand who the speaker is. There are times when the two narratives coalesce which provides complexity to the narrative.

The book reminded me very much of Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea in its description of the island of St. Crescens. The detailed description of the place,its people,the very strong racist feel than runs through the novel is very similar to Rhys' book.

The author very successfully gains the readers' "willful suspension of disbelief" from the very beginning. Arabella begins by saying, "We have a lot in common, we two, though she is alive and I am not." The very element of super-naturalism begins from here as the reader anticipates its arrival next in the book. What is commendable is that the reader never for once questions the validity of the existence of the spirit of Arabella and her communication with Grace. The two women are portrayed very efficiently with different layers of their personality defined and analysed. The central metaphor of the book is the mango tree in the yard of the house which is viral infected and produces mangoes which look healthy outside but are rotten inside,representing the political turmoil in the island.

The only thing I didn't like about the book is the strong political influence, the corruption and crime that is harped over and over. It becomes a bit tedious after sometime for politics isn't something I like reading much about. Somebody interested in politics might have a different opinion. 

Overall,an enjoyable and informative read. 

MY RATING: 4 / 5