I’m really starting to like this book. Foer is really good at slipping in information almost unnoticed. You really have to read between the lines to know what’s going on, and I think that’s a smart technique to keep the reader on edge. For example, on page 119, the character writing the letters mentions that his mom says “God bless me” when she sneezes. On page 144, Foer slips this bit of information in, through another character who imitates Oskar’s grandmother. I actually went back to find the page where it was first mentioned, still in awe how this author is appealing to me.
From the given information, I can now assume that the person writing the letters is Oskar’s grandmother’s husband; or his grandfather. The letters weren’t exactly for Oskar, they were for his father. I like that more snippets of information are being given because now I can see a clearer picture. So when I stop reading, I don’t look like this anymore:
Now the reading isn’t about flipping back and forth between pages trying to find answers. It’s more like letting the story unravel by itself. I don’t think it’s an easy task for any author, but I have a feeling I’m going to remember this book for a long time.
Sometimes Oskar seems like the mature man stuck in a 9 year old’s body, but at others, he is just as immature or rather, at the same level of maturity others his age are. I seem to see this in a few places in the story. It’s as if he acts like others his age, sometimes saying things he doesn’t mean, or saying it in a way that is misunderstood. We all know he can be mature at times but on the flip side, I think there is a struggle between his intellect and wisdom because they are on different levels. Like when he is at Ada Black’s house and he compliments the maid, but in a way that was almost patronizing.It makes me wonder, what’s more important? Facts? Or knowing what to say at the right time?
